"Why does God let bad things happen?"

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Pluviophilexo

Guest
#1
#1
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
 
kingerik

kingerik

Senior Member
#2
Sep 25, 2013
260
1
18
#2
Bad things happen because satan is alive, I also know things happen because God has a reason for it. A women I know was raped and now she helps other women like that. I know God has a reason for everything he does. To get everything out that God has put in us we have to have it pressed and squeezed out of it. A Diamond is not made except with extreme heat and pressure.


I don't know what to tell your friend except that a sovereign God has a plan and a purpose for this.
 
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#3
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#3
God created the world with what, in Hebrew, is called shalom. The short definition is peace. Shalom is more then just simply peace; it is a complete peace. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony. Man decided they must know sin, as well as only this shalom.

God established ways for us to achieve this peace and order in our world, he gave us love and the law that expresses that and achieves it. He gave us blood to use for forgiveness from the first, completed with Christ, when we missed the mark. From the first, men didn't listen to this and lived in a way that created chaos.

If you study OT history, watching what the prophets had to say about the history happening, you see a picture of this. If you study any history, it gives a picture. Hitler created this chaos, it ended taking a wheel barrow of money to buy a loaf of bread. The pilgrims in America created peace at first.

We can create this shalom in our lives best by living God's way, but we also live with and must endure the society that is around us. If you study the book of Daniel, it tells of a people needing to live with the chaos they had created, and how God helps with that.

Even though we have to put up with these terrible situations at times, we can know that God is working for blessings for His people. When we listen, God can make good come out of bad situations. God asks us to make the very best we can of the bad situations we find ourselves in.

As an example, my family is ignoring me when I badly need their help. My thoughts of this ran to "ain't it just AWFUL". I wasn't making the best of it. I changed my thoughts to using each name and quoting "may the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine on you, and give you peace." Within days I got a dinner invitation from family.
 
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directline2iam

Banned
#4
Jul 25, 2013
1,329
19
0
#4
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering? | Bible Gateway Blog
 
seed_time_harvest

seed_time_harvest

Senior Member
#5
Dec 9, 2011
13,762
1,731
113
#5
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?".A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Hi Pluviophilexo
That happening to your friend would make anything that you try to say not comforting,sometimes,quoting scriptures to people that lost a loved one like that,makes them resent GOD even more;sometimes your action will speak louder than words,what i mean is,let them grieve and be there for them in a sincerity,cry with them and understand what they are going through.as you love them back to hope,let them know that the GOD is just and the little one is happy and they should understand that the person who is going through the grieving should be happy that the other person(the 3 year old is in heaven)is happy.Jesus told his deciples that they should be happy for him after he had told them he was going to die,because he was going to his father.
viewing the king james version(kjv)

John 14:28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
 
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MaggieMye

Guest
#6
#6
God does not ordain or approve of rape or children dying young. But...Hos 4:6!!! There are MANY spiritual aspects that fall into place that FORCES God to stand back and allow such things. No, it is NOT His will that they happen. But because of the lack of knowledge of spiritual dynamics between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of darkness, He has no choice but to allow them. IF people understood, they could TAKE the ACTION necessary to cut off these things from ever happening to them. But they ...the Church at large, Severely lacks the knowledge...even though it is found in His word.
The other problem...tied in with the lack of knowledge, is the lack of knowing HOW to pray...how to take authority, how to war, spiritually.
It has always been God's plan for man to become Born again, anew, spiritually, with Christ within so that WE could then take dominion back from the one that stole it from us in the first place. Most do not know this, and for that that do, far too many do not know how. Remember this verse?? Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. That fruit being the manifested creation of what your words said. Remember..we are created in His image...and He SPOKE all things into existence. OUR words also have power.
 
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starfield

Senior Member
#7
Jun 13, 2009
3,393
58
48
#7
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Bad things happen to God's children for various reasons; it could be a way of disciplining or bringing them to spiritual maturity. God may use bad things to work out good and for His glory as in the case of Joseph, and Joseph had an unwavering faith amidst his trials. Trials should draw us closer God. Basically, nothing happens outside of God's sovereign will. Ephesians 1:11 "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will". The greatest comfort for every believer is that we have a wonderful place secured for us, where there will be no more sorrow. Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away". My deepest sympathy goes out to your dear friend. Keep praying for her and trust that God will open her heart.

Cheers, and welcome to CC. :)
 
J

J-Kay

Guest
#8
#8
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
I am so sorry your friend has lost her son. One poster said it well when they tell
you to be there to comfort and not preach. We don't have all the answers my friend.
I do know what I have learned through death of adult daughter and later my 22 yr.
old Grandson..... Our children are on loan to us. We do the very best we can to insure
they are cared for. Let your friend say all she needs to say. It can take up to a year
before she can find acceptance in a loving and caring God. Another thought comes
to mind. Encouraging more is the fact the child no longer suffers. And the child is now
in a place of eternal rest. It is my belief even a child will see Heaven even though the
parent is not Christian. Until that child is of age to make a decision to accept or reject
Christ, I believe God has the young in a place far better than what we can give them.
No more suffering, no more pain. God bless you and may He give you words of love
and encouragement and may His Light shine through you. It sounds like you know He
can use you. ~ In Christ our Lord. ~
 
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misecretone

Guest
#9
#9
I'm suprised no1 mentioned the story of Job... in the bible ttheir is a book called Job... it is one of my favorite stories in all of the Bible and always comforts me and reminds me of God's knowledge being whole and our knowledge being partial in comparison.
 
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Isdaniel

Banned
#10
Oct 14, 2013
4,750
21
0
#10
Isaiah 57

King James Version (KJV)

57 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
 
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Isdaniel

Banned
#11
Oct 14, 2013
4,750
21
0
#11
MaggieMye said:
God does not ordain or approve of rape or children dying young. But...Hos 4:6!!! There are MANY spiritual aspects that fall into place that FORCES God to stand back and allow such things. No, it is NOT His will that they happen. But because of the lack of knowledge of spiritual dynamics between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of darkness, He has no choice but to allow them. IF people understood, they could TAKE the ACTION necessary to cut off these things from ever happening to them. But they ...the Church at large, Severely lacks the knowledge...even though it is found in His word.
The other problem...tied in with the lack of knowledge, is the lack of knowing HOW to pray...how to take authority, how to war, spiritually.
It has always been God's plan for man to become Born again, anew, spiritually, with Christ within so that WE could then take dominion back from the one that stole it from us in the first place. Most do not know this, and for that that do, far too many do not know how. Remember this verse?? Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. That fruit being the manifested creation of what your words said. Remember..we are created in His image...and He SPOKE all things into existence. OUR words also have power.
Click to expand...
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[h=3]2 Corinthians 1[/h]King James Version (KJV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
 
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4enlightment

4enlightment

Banned
#12
May 15, 2013
4,307
27
0
#12
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Ruth 1:3Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1:5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth 4:14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!

Ruth 4:17The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
 
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MaggieMye

Guest
#13
#13
Isdaniel said:
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2 Corinthians 1

King James Version (KJV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Click to expand...

POINT??

By Starfield: "Bad things happen to God's children for various reasons; it could be a way of disciplining or bringing them to spiritual maturity. God may use bad things to work out good and for His glory as in the case of Joseph, and Joseph had an unwavering faith amidst his trials EXCUSE ME!! That is NOT the God of the Bible! God does not CAUSE bad things to happen to His children. He does ALLOW the devil to bring trials...he comes to kill, steal and destroy remember. Satan is always doing things to bring us down, cause us lack, kill us, make us sick, whatever. And he can and does succeed when we have unforgiveness, unrepented sin, or even generational iniquity that has not been dealt with (Dan 9 has Daniel acknowledging the sins of his forefathers, confessing them and asking for forgiveneness...not that HE, Daniel did those sins. But those sins of old DID have to be confessed! Until that was done, Israel would suffer.
The greatest comfort for every believer is that we have a wonderful place secured for us, where there will be no more sorrow. While this is true, we are not to simply bide our time and wait for this prize!! In fact, if that is what we do, we will not even get that prize because scripture tell us that faith WITHOUT WORKS is DEAD!! We are to be OVERCOMERS...overcoming evil because of our relationship with Christ; knowing the Lord and His word so that we CAN STAND AGAINST the evil one!
Maggie


 
Shilo

Shilo

Senior Member
#14
Aug 31, 2011
1,974
102
63
#14
Isaiah 57 1 The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. 2 For the godly who die will rest in peace
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#15
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
2,947
113
#15
The Bible and salvation are not the American dream. We are NEVER promised a perfect life. In fact, the book of Job shows that God is sovereign and we cannot understand his ways. That does not mean that God is cruel, he loves his children and his will is for all to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9

There is a heretical gospel out there that tells people, "Come to God and your life will be perfect." I can't find that anywhere in my Bible.

What I can find, is that we live in a fallen world. That means sin, and hereditary diseases and an increasing load in the genetic structure of humans. That means genes that can be fatal, including those involved in cancer.

But God loves us and he can bring good out of bad.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [SUP]4 [/SUP]and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [SUP]5 [/SUP]and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

For your friend, give her time right now. She is grieving, as she has the right to. Don't give her any pat answers, just love her support her practically. Feed her family, do her laundry. Let her see the love of God in you.

And pray for her. This is the hardest thing any parent can go through. I had a friend with a daughter with leukemia at age 4. I basically had to do everything for her for months. In the end, her daughter did live, but the stress and pain warped her, even though she was a Christian.

So sorry for this trial, but praying for you and your friend, that when God's time is right, he will comfort her and she will be saved.
 
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PilgrimProgress

Guest
#16
#16
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Simple.

Listen to her. Pause 5 seconds... reply. Listen more... pause 3 seconds... say nothing. LET here moarn. There's nothing wrong with just shutting up. Lol. Look at the advice given to job. A lot of waffle. Nothing helped. He needed space. Lots of space. Respect your friends boundries.

And simple on the second par.

Grrrr.... satan did it... grrrr... it's satan's fault

Adam fell because of Eve, because of satan... the devil's fault grrr...

Death < Sin < Devil

Death is thrown into hell in the Bible.

Death is an actual fallen angel.

I would just say, "It's the devil's fault." And, "I hate the devil". If she really wants your opinion.
 
thecreationtutor

thecreationtutor

Senior Member
#17
Jun 30, 2011
2,521
35
0
#17
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...

Do you read the Bible yourself? You can't give comfort if you don't know what God's comfort is for yourself - I could give you answers, but do the hard work yourself... Do you care about this person? If you do, You will find it out
 
C

CRC

Guest
#18
#18
Bad Things Do Not Come From God
The Bible makes it clear that God never intended that we suffer this way. He placed the original couple in a paradise home that was free from pain and suffering. (Genesis 1:28) No doubt you well know how things went wrong: An invisible spirit creature, who came to be known as the Devil and Satan, induced Adam and Eve to disobey God. (Genesis, chapter 3; Revelation 12:9) By doing this, Adam condemned all his offspring to sin and its devastating effects.—Romans 5:12.
Clearly, it was not God who brought evil upon mankind, but man himself. (Deuteronomy 32:5; Ecclesiastes 7:29) Indeed, all the bad things that people suffer today—the sickness, the death, the wars, the injustices—resulted from Adam’s willful act of disobedience. Furthermore, we are all subject to what the Bible calls “time and unforeseen occurrence.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Both the wicked and the righteous experience freak accidents and tragedies.
 
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GBrowning

Guest
#19
#19
1 John 3:22 Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

God created free will and because EVE & ADAM WILLFULLY SINNED against one tiny commandment, we are pleaged with death and destruction for 6000 years until his return in the 7th millennium.

Without FREEWILL there would be no TRUE LOVE, God does not want robot love.

Job is a great book for these types of tradegys, she lost one child, Job lost everything, entire family, property, livestock, servents and etc... and because he stayed faithful and did NOT deny God, he was rewarded greatly, more than before.
Job asked God WHY? God only asked Job 84 questions, instead of answering him.

IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO FAITH!
 
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notconformed2theworld

Guest
#20
#20
Pluviophilexo said:
I, as a Christian, understand that sometimes, bad things just happen. I get through things with faith, knowing that someday it will all make sense.

BUT - I have a hard time defending this faith to non-believers, as well as answering questions such as "if God loves His children, why do bad things happen to them?"

A friend of mine just lost her very young son (three years old) to stage IV Neuroblastoma. It has completely shattered the small bit of progress we have made building up her acceptance to God, and now she is, once again, firmly in belief that God doesn't exist because He would not have taken her son from her.

What is a good way to comfort her as well as reply to her question of "why does God let bad things happen?", without using phrases along the lines of "he's in a better place now."?
Click to expand...
Its a part of Gods plan...why did God allow job to go thru what he went thru??? This life is all about faith....faith in something we can't see... which is the substance of things hoped for...but after it was all said and done, job came out better than before his trials and tribulations. I'm sure after sept 11 2001 there was people that looked to God and they got saved. I had a friend that was in a gang but then he got shot...at his funeral many souls accepted Christ or had an experience with God...idk if they still living for God but they had that experience and they was touched by God and that's all it takes. just one touch from God can change a persons heart and lifestyle. So now those people that may have had doubt in God's extisenes, now they believe, of course its up to them to receive and continue to serve God or not. Its all up to them. But I know even tho my friend died....God still was in control and he touched them in a way that they would have no excuse not to live holy or not to believe in God. God allows things to happen to us as children of God or sinners so that we realize we need him more than we think rather we are saved or not, rather we are in sin or not. God is not ignorant he knows what he's doing and always is in control no matter what.
 
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