Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

1 Peter 1:6–9 In this [hope of heaven] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that THE GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, MAY BE FOUND TO PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

This question is definitely thought-provoking, but the premise is slightly skewed. The question assumes 1) That we are good; and 2) That when things happen to us, they are either good or bad by our standards.

Premise 1: We Are Good

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 says (the sins we commit are listed in 1:18–3:20—Paul has already proven the point that we are sinners); and Jesus says in Matthew 9:17, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

The disciples raised a question similar to Luke’s when they asked Jesus about the blind man in John 9: "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" We know they both did, but that's not why the man was born blind. He was born blind so that the Lord would be glorified in His healing.

John 9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

Even Job, a righteous man, committed sins. Therefore, he needed forgiveness in the same way we do. He endured hardship in the same way we will (James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy WHEN you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”). And yet Job is an example to us of endurance.

James 5:10–11 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Premise 2: Something is Good or Bad

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The man born blind and his family might have thought that his situation was hopeless. They might have thought that it was a bad circumstance. And who’s to say that he didn’t suffer, endure ridicule, and hope for healing while he was blind? But God’s ultimate plan was to heal him and to glorify Himself through that man’s healing.

Perhaps affliction is at times judgment, punishment for sins. After all, Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” In John 5, after Jesus healed a paralytic man, He said to the man, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Sin does have consequences:

Galatians 6:7–8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Deuteronomy 8:5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. (In this context, Eliphaz was trying to convince Job to confess his sins. However, the idea of God’s correcting His children can be found throughout the Word. For instance, this verse is quoted again in Hebrews 12:5 with more context.)

Proverbs 3:11–12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

But take heart. We are God’s children; He has not forgotten us! Our hope is in Him. Therefore, while we endure what we consider hardship on earth, we must continually remember that we are only “aliens on temporary assignment.” If we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord and believe that He died on the cross to forgive our sins, we live to obtain an imperishable crown—life in heaven, glorifying God in all things (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)!

1 Peter 1:3–5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jeremiah 29:11 “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.”

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Proverbs 16:1, 9, 20, & 33 The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. … A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. … He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. … The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

The verses immediately following Romans 3:23 give us even more hope. “[All who have sinned,] being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation [satisfaction for our sins] by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, TO DEMONSTRATE AT THE PRESENT TIME HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”