On When Bad Things Happen

God didn't create the problem you find yourself in. He didn't let you down - in fact He lifted you up when you fell down. That's hard to see sometimes when we are deep in hurt or loss. There's a tendency to blame God when things don't go our way but God didn't do it.

Chances are you made a poor choice through ruthlessness or ignorance and ended up somewhere you didn't mean to be. In the alternative maybe someone else's free will caused you harm. I know I've made "innocent" well intentioned decisions that ended up changing the trajectory of my life. Even though it feels like it, it's not the end of the world and chances are God is right there with you, mourning your loss just like you.

But what good is a mourning God? Well for one, you're not alone. It's scary ending up somewhere you never intended. Unfamiliar territory can be terrifying. Two, chances are that as God walks with you He's helping you along the way. Love is an action and not only an emotion. If God is love than it only follows that He is acting on your behalf even if it's not readily apparent.

Often it’s easiest to blame the person closest to you (in this case God) for things that go wrong. With this perspective you’ll only spiral down into a place of self-pity. It’s much better to see things for what they are, including our own mistakes. In fact, it’s crucial that we examine our own behavior to change it so we don’t end up making the same mistakes over and over. It’s easy to see why we’re quick to blame God, but you're mistaken for doing so.

God has good will towards us. He wants to help us and not hurt us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). The next time you find yourself erroneously placing blame on God or even someone else, first stop to ask yourself what you could have done wrong, and then remember that God lifts you up at all times. 

Bad things happen to good people and although it doesn’t always make sense, I’m willing to bet that God isn’t “out to get you.” Take a good look at yourself before believing that an all powerful God is out to harm you. God is a good God with an amazing love for those who follow him. In fact, He reminds us over and over again in scripture that He’s not out to condemn us, but instead lift us up and bless us: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

I’m in no way suggesting that God does not punish His own when necessary. He certainly withholds things from us when the timing isn’t right and according to His will. What I am saying is that God expects us to be responsible adults and that includes taking inventory of our sin and how that negatively affects our lives. As accountable individuals it’s important to identify and modify our shortcomings. It’s why when something bad happens to me, the first thing I do is ask myself how I contributed to the problem instead of placing blame on God or others. I think you’ll save yourself the heartache if you simply own up to less than desirable behavior that led up to your problem. In conclusion, God doesn’t send us bad things - we inadvertently seek them out on our own. I continually pray to God to help me see the error of my ways, I strongly recommend you do the same.