Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

 Actually, I don't think I have the perfect answer to this question, let alone any answer really to this question. But after coming out recently from my second relapse it got me thinking on some things in life, as usual. I write from a lay man Christian perspective as I am definitely no theologian. But having had such a personal experience with the Lord from the early age of my 20's onwards, I think it's worth writing down. 

What I have gained is everything in Christ and what I have lost is everything but Christ. 

Recently, I came to an understanding by myself that we live in a fallen world. There's no escape to sin because this is a fallen world. We choose to sin, or we choose not to sin but most of the time we sin anyways. And that's the nature of this fallen world. And because of this fallen world the enemy prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). And what that means is that he is capable of attacking us in our lives. Now, this is no excuse to say 'hey, the devil made me do it' lol. But what I am saying in all seriousness is that he does attack us. 

So of course I am writing from a very personal experience now but I hope what I have to say speaks volumes to whoever finds the time to read this. I'm not saying because of illness I found God, because I know Him to be a good God. One who would never want me to suffer let alone have my life endangered in any circumstance. But I am saying that on every occasion of illness, God was with me every step of the way. He protected me, He sheltered me and He kept me safe under the refuge of His wings.

It brought to light many aspects of my life that I didnt realise once upon a time would have caused me to stumble in my walk with Him. The one main one being the fact that I have always had a need to have a boyfriend since the early age of 18 onwards (I still havent had a boyfriend btw...lol). I guess at a younger age, that was something I was needy of but it was the Lord who kept me back then from getting involved in relationships, because like I said, I was needy as well as emotional and what I probably needed was not a boyfriend but an adult to speak to to help me process the things I was going through at that young age. 

I think God is so good that in this fallen world, He has kept me safe. That despite times that I could have stumbled, He sheltered me and even though the enemy attacks, He who is in me is greater than he who is in this world (1 John 4:4). It all points back to Christ, because we all are in need of Him. There is no one greater than the other in this journey we call life. And I think anything that I have gained recently is the fact of how human I am and how greatly humbled I am by that fact. Doing my quiet time two days ago and re-reading a portion of scripture that speaks about how we have this treasure in jars of clay (2 Cor 4:7) made me realise how fragile we all are. Yet, we hold this treasure in us, that is Christ. We're so fragile yet He lets us hold Him in the depths of our heart. I mean, how beautiful is that, really? That Christ our Saviour, came for us in love, that we might hold Him in our hearts, when we are so fragile, reckless, careless as jars of clay that we can be. If knocked, we get shattered, yet He holds us in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 41:10). He is that good, good Father, that good God. That is His character. I've always known this since the days I first came out of illness - I knew He was good. And today, I say the same. Because He has never let me go, He has always held me close to Him. He truly is my refuge, my strength and my shield. But also more than the protection he gives, is the fact that He is my loving Father. No one gets me, the way He gets me and I am just so blessed to know that. We all have that heart-shaped void in our hearts. One where only the God of this universe, the God who created you, gets. Yeah, he gets you. 

So why do bad things happen to good people? Well, like I said, I don't have the answer to this question. Some questions we may truly never have the answer to till we meet our creator of all eternity. But I do hope that this encourages you to know the creator of this universe because He knows you and He LOVES you! I cannot bold that word enough! And when we know the Lord, He fills us, like no one else can. 

Lots of love!

Mary Ruth Gopal