The Age-Old Question: Why?

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

One of the most common questions that has been asked, both by believers in Jesus and unbelievers is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  I certainly don’t have a definitive answer, but I can give my thoughts on the subject.  A “good” person is described by believers as one who obeys the Lord, serves Him, and puts the needs of others ahead of his or her own interests.  An unbeliever sees a “good” person as one who obeys the law, stays out of trouble, and does some good deeds.  It is the assumption of both believers and unbelievers that a “good” person should be relatively free of pain, discomfort, and major troubles.  The main problem with that notion is that it doesn’t work that way.  Ask any God-fearing Christian who has been through a major trauma, and he or she will verify that walking with the Lord does not guarantee a trouble-free life.  Quite the contrary, sometimes true believers experience more pain and hardships than their worldly counterparts in order to show believers the utter need of depending on the Lord and to show unbelievers the peace that results from serving the true and living God.

A few years ago, I visited my dentist for a broken tooth repair.  As we talked about world events and about the Lord, he was called away to another room for an emergency.  As I later learned, the lady next door, in conversation with him, told him about her daughter who had received treatment for cancer, but was unexpectedly having to return for further treatment.  When my dentist returned, he asked me, “Why does God give people cancer?”  I told him that I didn’t believe that God gives people cancer.  I explained by saying when Adam and Eve sinned, the floodgates for every disease and malady, both physical and mental, were unleashed upon mankind, making God’s creation subject to afflictions of all kinds.  It is because we live in a sin-cursed world that stuff happens.  God can certainly allow someone to get cancer or some other dreaded disease, but He is not a vindictive God who seeks to zap people because of their sins.  He would rather for them to repent, and sometimes suffering is the only way that He can get their attention.  Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that God has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”  We have a tendency to ask “Why?” when trouble rears its ugly head, but many times we fail to appreciate the good that God sends our way.  How often do we ask the Lord, “Why are You so good to me?”

It is also true that God allows believers and unbelievers alike to experience the consequences of their sin.  As someone once said, “God will forgive your sin when you repent, but He may wear you out with the consequences.”  As the old gospel song says, “You can’t do wrong and get by.”  There is another reason that people suffer and is a very valuable tool in building up God’s kingdom here on earth.  If one desires to seek counsel for a certain painful experience, then the best person to talk with is one who has been through similar circumstances.  Painful experiences, such as disease or loss of a loved one, as I have experienced, gives one insights and new perspectives about life and our purposes here.  One can use his or her suffering to become bitter and reclusive or he or she can help others and show the light of Christ as they minister to the ill, the anxious, and the bereaved.

On a personal note, many people have said to me over the last few years that I was an inspiration to them or that they considered me to be a very strong person, but I feel neither inspirational nor strong.  Any display of strength or optimism is not generated by me but by Christ who lives in me.  The recognition given to me by those who express these kind remarks serves to reinforce the fact that folks do pay attention to how Christians actually demonstrate what they say they believe as they respond to critical events and tragedies.  If left to my own devices, I would live most of the time as a permanent hostess to my own “pity party”, but how could God get any glory from that?  They, whoever “they” are, say that “misery loves company”, but company rarely desires to share in one’s misery.  I certainly have times of sadness and depression because I miss those that have gone home to heaven but knowing that I will see them again one day is a real comfort to me.  Every day that passes is one day less to spend in this evil world and one day closer to home.  The key to finding peace and joy in the midst of trouble is to get oneself off his or her mind and find someone to bless.  I truly believe that is one of the reasons that God has left me here.