Does God allow bad things to happen to believers?
Does God cause or allow bad things to happen?
See also:
Bible Verses about Trials & Tribulations;
12 Bible Verses about Being Tested;
Why does God test us?
Key Verse ~ Every Good Gift Comes from God…
James 1:17, NLT Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
Dear Friends, we probably all know that God blesses us with good gifts – Yes, testimonies of God’s goodness abound all around us. Good things come from God, and Blessings in Life come from God.
But what about when bad things happen? Who’s responsible for these?
Does God allow bad things to happen to believers? Does God cause bad things to happen, or does God simply allow bad things to happen?
My Dear Friends, I am reminded today that God sometimes allows bad things to happen (even though they don’t make Him happy), and other times, God actually causes bad things to happen (to bring about good from the process).
“I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord…” ~ Isaiah 66:9, NCV
Here are 3 sets of scriptures and notes to illustrate these thoughts:
#1. God sometimes allows bad things to happen, even though they don’t make Him happy.
An example can be found in John 11, when Lazarus died. God allowed Lazarus to die, however this does not mean God was happy that Lazarus was dead. This does not mean God was happy that his family and friends were grieving the loss of their loved one. This does not mean God did not hurt when these people hurt. This does not mean God did not feel their pain deeply. In fact, the Bible says that Jesus wept. (John 11:35)
John 11:32-35, ESV Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Related: What Makes God Sad?
Isaiah 55:8, ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. Related: Bible Verses when you don’t understand
#2. God sometimes causes bad things to happen, in order to bring about good.
There are some lessons we can only learn through hardships and trials. There are some character traits that we can only develop after experiencing challenging relationships and interactions.
How can we grow in faith if we never go through unpleasant situations? How can we grow in patience and endurance if we never need to wait on God for anything? How can we grow in the fruit of the Spirit if we always have everything super easy, and we never have to grow in spiritual fitness? How can we grow spiritually if God never disciplines us in love? How can we truly grow in forgiveness and mercy if we have never been hurt deeply?
James 1:2 -4, NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
1 Peter 1:6, ESV In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
Hebrews 12:5, NLT … My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
Hebrews 12:11, NIV No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Romans 8:28, NASB And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. [Praise God!]
#3. Come what may, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Nothing can ever separate us from God’s unfailing and unconditional love.
Romans 8:35-39, NLT Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Thanks for reading, Dear Friends!
Have a wonderfully blessed, stress-free, productive, and joyful day!
Much Love & Blessings,
Bomi Jolly ~ JollyNotes.com
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