Why Do Bad Things Happen? | Romans 8:28
Have you ever had doubts about God before? Doubt is not a bad word. Doubt happens when faith encounters the real world. When our beliefs hit everyday life, we question our beliefs. It’s not wrong to question what we believe; a faith that cannot be questioned, should not be trusted. The only way you grow deeper in faith is by asking the hard questions of your faith. There is a greater danger in having an unquestioned, untested, superficial faith than one that he been asked the hard questions. Christianity believes that the God who exists and made the universe is in control over everything. If that is true, then why would God allow bad things to happen? How can God be a God of power and a God of love, when wars break out, kids get bullied, parents get divorced, babies die, hurricanes hit, and tragedies happen? Have you ever asked that question? I did on June 4th, 2014. I got a call from the chief deputy in Seminole county that a 19-year-old young lady, Melissa Ostrom, was killed in car accident. Melissa was one of the kindest, godliest, young ladies in the church. She felt a call to missions and serving the Lord for the rest of her life. The chief deputy asked me to help him inform her parents. I rode with him to her dad, and I will never forget his face, hearing the unexpected news. Her mother was at work 45 minutes away and we decided to ride together to tell her in person. As I shared the news with her husband it was devastating. I remember driving home after spending the day with the family, thinking, why God? Have you ever asked that before? Don’t let that question keep you from believing but let that question help you believe.
Paul is writing to believers in Rome who were going through a tremendous amount of persecution and suffering. Many were being tortured, killed or mistreated for being Christians. Paul is giving them stability and hope during their suffering. VS. 18: The Sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. VS. 20, 22: All of creation is subject to futility and is groaning…waiting in hope. When it comes to evil and suffering, there is a problem that we need to overcome and a perspective that we need to have to trust the promise of Romans 8:28.