Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

Every morning we start our homeschool (we school year-round with breaks here and there) with a Bible study from Not Consumed (we're currently doing their "Don't Blow Up" study).

Today we started with the reading of a few verses from 1 Kings (Specifically 1 Kings 21:1-19) and through the story of Naboth and the vineyard stolen from him.

This prompted a two-hour discussion as to why God allows bad things to happen to innocent people. A conversation that led us through Job, Ruth, and Acts.

Through all of these stories and the discussions that followed, the core question remained the same: Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

This is a question that I feel like EVERYONE struggles with on some level. Which is why it's a recurring theme in my books.

Because that is a big question, right? Especially for children who are just learning to study God's Word. (My kids are 12, 10, and 6.)

If God is all-powerful, then why doesn't He stop bad things from happening? Why doesn't He rid the world of evil and save all of the innocent people?

But when we really think about it...

If God were to rid the world of ALL suffering and evil...how many of us would truly be left?

I can't think of anyone. I certainly wouldn't be here.

The hard truth is, we often focus on 'evil' and 'suffering' as being things done to us. But I imagine if we all stop and think about it--I mean really think--we can ALL pinpoint at least one moment in our lives where we were the ones causing the suffering.

Whether it's spreading gossip, reacting poorly during a traffic incident and yelling at someone who may have just been having a bad day, or doing something we really shouldn't have been doing.

I can certainly think of quite a few instances in my life where I know what I did caused others to hurt.

And as I was talking to my kiddos about this, I explained to them that while we can't see God's plan, He only wants what's best for all of us because He loves us.

It's why He sent Jesus to us. Because He knew that we couldn't make it into Heaven on our own. Jesus died for all of us. He suffered the death all of us deserved.

As my oldest says, "Stop complaining about life not being fair. Because if it was, we'd all be on the cross."

And because He loves us so much, He granted us all free will.

Unfortunately, with that, comes those who will take it for granted and use it to further their own futures or gain their own deepest, darkest desires.

Darkness is the absence of light.

Evil is the absence of God.

God IS GOOD.

God IS HOLY.

God IS MIGHTY.

And there will come a day when He wipes all of our tears away. When there is no more pain, death, or sickness.

For Christians, death in this world isn't the ending...it's the beginning.

We will suffer in this world.

We will face trials and tribulations.

Moments that test our faith and push us to the brink.

But trials build endurance and endurance strengthens our faith. (Romans 5:2-4.)

In our weakness, HE IS STRONG. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10.)

Those moments where everything feels too heavy.

Where we feel like we can't go on any further.

We HAVE to remember to turn to God.

Because we were never meant to carry these burdens alone.

And while that question may haunt us whenever we suffer or see someone suffering, we can have peace in knowing that God has a plan. One that is so much BETTER than any we could ever come up with.

He deserves all of our praise.

Our love.

And the more we study His Word and turn to Him in our struggles, the more we start to see HIM working in our lives.

I told my kids that when I was growing up, there were things I went through that I don't know I will ever be able to really talk about...but now I see now how God was working in those moments.

I see now that everything I went through led me to be the person I am today. Where I can talk to people who have also suffered, and hopefully my testimony helps them to seek God even in the darkest moments of their lives.

This is why I write what I do. Why I don't stifle the grit.

Because we ALL face it in some capacity and pretending it doesn't exist only creates a barrier where one doesn't need to exist.

Not talking about the struggle only makes those who are struggling feel alone.

And the beautiful truth is...NONE OF US ARE ALONE.

-Jessica

*Note: I am not affiliated with Not Consumed Ministries. I am only sharing the link to their Bible study because it has been a fantastic homeschool resource for us! You can find the Don't Blow Up study HERE.