When Bad Things Happen to Good People Video provided by: TruthMedia Films
C. S. Lewis once said “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Lewis was not unacquainted with suffering in his own life. His book A Grief Observed Lewis pours out his heart after the death of his wife, Joy Gresham.
Another man who is acquainted with grief is radio host and author Dawson McAllister. He speaks to an average of half a million listeners per week on his radio show, but in this video he reflects poignantly about his son’s accident. Like Lewis, he is a man who is not a fan of cliches and easy answers, he’d rather grapple honestly with the truth. In dealing with times of suffering he says, “Either you’ll become better, or you’ll become bitter, but you won’t be the same again.”
If it seems like God has been shouting into your life lately rather than whispering, and you’d like someone to talk with about it privately, use this form to talk to an email mentor. It’s entirely free and your information will be kept confidential. You can also take an online study based on this video.
Related reading:
Finding Hope When it Hurts Online Study – An online interactive study on a tough topic.
When Your World Isn’t as it Should Be – What’s wrong with the world? What’s wrong with us?
TheHopeLine – Dawson’s radio show and help line
Hi Pam, I am sorry that you have not been relieved of your pain. I am sure that hearing “Smile, God loves you!” can get pretty annoying when you see little evidence of His active love in your life. There are a lot of times when I have to admit that God does not act the way that makes the most sense to me. It can be very tricky trying to encourage someone else when I can’t understand why God does (or does not) act the way He does. There are times when I just have to throw up my hands and say “I have no idea!” My only comfort in that is God’s love is not dependent on my understanding or my ability to explain it to someone else. I feel much freer standing with Job and honestly saying, “God it’s not fair!” rather than standing with his friends and saying, “You must have done something to deserve this treatment.” You see, I know the end of the story where God said to Job’s friends, “I am angry with you because you have not spoken what is right about me like Job has.” (Job 42:7 if you’re interested).
I guess the thing that always makes me pause when I am in those places is the remembrance of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. They had some pretty rigid expectations of how the Messiah would act and when Jesus did not meet their expectations they turned their back on Him no matter how much evidence they had that He was indeed the Son of God. I never want my expectations of how God should act to get in the way of how He wants to act and my openness to following Him no matter what. I always want my response to be like Peter when Jesus was saying things that he did not get at all, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:68)
I hope you don’t mind if I pray for you: Lord God I know there is a lot going on here that I don’t know anything about but what I do know is that Pam is hurting and she cannot see You making things any better. Father, the things I know are that You love her with a limitless love and that there is nothing that you cannot do. Everything else is up in the air but I do trust that Your plans will be accomplished so I ask that You would help Pam to experience Your love and that her trust in You would be firmly established. Guard her heart from being hardened against You and provide for her needs as You have promised that You would. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pam I know you don’t feel like sharing things right now, and that’s alright. If you ever do and need a place to talk you are always welcome here or with one of our online mentors. Know that you will be in my prayers.
Hi Jamie,
I had better not say because each time I asked for advice about my ongoing emotional pain I just got bombarded with platitudes or out of context Bible verses. I do not want the same to happen here. The best thing for me to do is just get out of bed, give the day to God, and just get on with life. I have prayed for the emotional pain to be taken away; I have rebuked the devil; I have prayed during the midnight hour; I have prayed during the breaking of the bread but it did not make any difference whichever position I prayed in.
I was told that God can do anything. I will not say that that is false because who am I to say what God can and cannot do? However, if it is true that God CAN do anything, then he is choosing not to because he is leaving me in this pain.
Never mind, I’ll just have to get on with life.
I can understand how over 10 years of pain can really impact your outlook on life, Pam. So what was the cause of your long-lasting pain?
I got bitter. Over a decade of chronic emotional pain and no answer to prayer would make most people bitter.
I know you lot like Bible verses so I’ll play along:
Matthew 46, Ruth 20
Thanks for the link to the video Thom. Jesus suffered in a way that was completely undeserved but He allowed that to happen so that there would be a way for all the rest of us to receive forgiveness for all the ways that we have rebelled against God. I am so grateful that He did that for me. If anyone wants to know how they can receive God’s forgiveness for themselves go to http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/discoverpurpose.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
I only know of one good person who bad things happened to, and He allowed it to occur.
No one took His life, He laid it down.
The rest of us… we aren’t good people.
Jesus said it, “no one is good except God alone.”
Video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ69Yqhr6UQ
Dudely, it is never an easy thing to deal with the issue of suffering in this world. But I think the Bible has the most satisfying answers because the truth of the words resonates with our experience. The Bible identifies five sources of pain and suffering in the world. The most easily identifiable is the pain and suffering that people experience at the hands of other people. The Bible is full of stories of powerful people taking advantage of the weak, and marginalized. God is opposed to those who inflict harm on others for their own selfish reasons and He calls us to also stand up for the disadvantaged.
The Bible also clearly teaches that there are consequences for our poor choices and rebellion against God. The discipline we receive from Him is there to help bring us to a place of confession and repentance.
The Bible also acknowledges that the rebelliousness of humanity has resulted in the compromising of Creation so that natural disasters occur causing pain and suffering to both evil and good people. Sometimes good people get sick or are hit by famine. It is the result of living in a world compromised by our rebelliousness against God.
We also read in the Bible that we have an enemy (that is the literal translation of Satan – “the adversary”) who torments us in order to compromise our relationship with God. The story of Job is a very clear example of this kind of pain and suffering.
But no matter what the cause or source of our pain and suffering, we find our comfort, strength and direction in God. We grow in our relationship with Him when we allow the suffering to direct our attention back onto God.
Talking about pain and suffering in the hypothetical is complicated, and talking about the reasons for someone else’s suffering is equally dangerous. But when you have a man like Dawson telling a story of how the suffering he has experienced has helped him develop a deeper friendship with God it becomes an inspiring example for the rest of us to follow.
Does that make sense Dudely? Has there been suffering in your life that has troubled you about the source and the reason?
So when a baby dies of diarrhea in the third world that’s what. . . God teaching it a lesson?
this story brought me home..brother lewis I MESUP BIG TIME…AND JUST LIKE YR SON…I’V ASK WOULD GOD FORGIVE ME?,,I KNOW HE HAS..GOT TO LEARN HOW TO FORGIVE MYSELF…WENT TO A REHAB…35 YRS LATTER HAVE A HOME FOR ABUSE WOMAN..MY SON THE KEPT HIM FROM 3 INSIDENCE..HIS WALKING WITH A LIMP,BUT HIS ALIVE,,COMING DOWN FROM THE CHURCH MY 11 MONTH GRANSON WAS TAKING FROM ME..DONT KNOW HIS WHERE ABOUT PRAY FOR HIM,,HIS NAME STEVEN REUPPORT..WAS DRAR FOR A HALF A BLOCK..HIT WITH A GUN…AND GOD KEPT US…HE HAS PLANS FOR YR SON…GOD IS GOD AND HE WILL TAKE THE VICTORY…GOD BLESS AND TELL YR SON THAT I;L BE PRAYING FOR HIM..WHO KNOWS MAYBE WE WILL MEAT SOME DAY…NUMBERS 6;24_26..gby..
@T.Hanshaw. When we feel helpless is when God works the most in a persons life even though we don’t like the pain that we have to go through. It is important that we do not remain alone during times like this but to seek out the fellowship of others. One of the verses that I like to read is Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
God Bless
Thank you so much for your testimony..I know God led me to it today..it’s been a long battle with our son, a better six-months, and now another intense battle..sometimes I just get very tired..but nevertheless, I still believe. May you and your family be blessed beyond measure. I will continue to pray for you. Hold on to your confession and allow God to use it to minister to others. I know that God doesn’t waste a hurt..
Thank you for testimonies from different people in this universe. The world we are living in is full of challenges. I believe our Father who is the Creator knows what is happening in our lives. This is why I always take each and every challenge to my knees.
Just recently I was attacked accused of something I didn’t say. I was made to say yes to it. But I stood firm refusing to take somebody’s responsibility. I laughed because I saw nothing but the devil trying to trap me. Onething I knew was my Father is always in our mist no matter what. We have to face our challenges with courage repeating Job’s words, my God lives. You know when pagans challenge you they start by making references from the Word. They sing all the verses they know to confuse you and that makes me laugh because from there they go to diviners for their future. So they don’t scare me at all. In my Father I am more than a conqueror. Let’s keep that in our minds all the time. Be blessed my dear friends in Christ. I love you all with His unconditional love.
Many a times bad things happen to good people. I want to believe that God does so for His own good and Glory. When a christian has to face challenges like our brother did, trust me it is God enabling him to endure in order to be a testimony to me and you. It is written that ‘He cannot let us be tempted more than (beyond) what we can bare’. God allowes us to go through the storms of life to make us better people – for Him. We may ask questions as to why? How? Where was He? Even as He is watching us, indeed He is going through the challenges with or alongside us. He has promised that He will NEVER leave us alone. That is why each and everyone of us has a story to tell – though in different ways and through different experiences. Remember ‘God is not a respecter of persons’ and does not choose whom to walk through challenges as He indeed loves us ALL. Remember Job in the Old Testament? Do you think he diserved to go through that wilderness? We are not different – but God is forever faithfull. AMEN.
good article. thanks for sharing
I just got an update and read Sherri’s comment. I laughed because it is ironic that she exemplifies “a Christian”. Her commnents are down talking and unsupportive. They show her belief that she has it all figured out instead of realizing that no Chrisaitan walk is the same and things that GOD allows to happen in your life are nothing like the same things that happen in someone elses lefe. GOD made each of us differently and none experience things the same way or have the same results when we apply “good advice” given from others. Sherri, I pray you climb down from your high place of judgement and opinion before GOID allows you to learn the lesson we all have to learn. If you cannot be supportive, and saying “God Bless you” is not supportive although you may think so, keep you opinion to yourself. We beat up and get beat up much to much to have it happen in a safe place like this. Now…you…Be Continuously Blessed. I really mean that from the bottom of my heart.
I’m sure you do good work but I’m wondering if you are in denial of your part in your son’s resulting life. What were you doing when your son was 15? You want him to come to you? You should have been always going to him, touching base with him, seeing where he is at. That is YOUR job as a parent. It is not his job to come to you. This is the REALITY.
God bless you.
Thank you for the blessing of this testimony, Dawson, and to each one of you who have responded. I have been powerfully blessed in hearing your words of faith. God bless you and your son, Dawson.
I have been to pray with Mr. McAllister and his son. Like Mr. McAllister said his faith has been truly tested, but he is one of the few men I have encountered in life that clings to God no matter how hard the devil pulls. He reminds me of what Martha said to Jesus (John 11:22) when Lazarus died. She said the words “Even Now”! Even now that the situation is this bad, your still Lord and you can change the conditions!!!
Mr. McAllister is one of the EVEN NOW saints.
Pastor Mike Giles.
Very powerful story. What a great man of God to take his pain and use it to continue to help others. I have sent this link to many people to offer them hope and encouragement in our loving God. Thank you for providing these ministry tools.
Dear Sir,
When you live in Africa, experiencing first hand avoidable suffering, death and adversity, it is temting to imagine that somehow, these things are the exclusive preserve of those of us who live in Africa and other parts of the so-called developing world.
When, with such candour and honesty, you share your heartaches, your hopes and your FAITH, it causes me to realise that indeed, we are one UNIVERSE. Uni-One; verse – Song. God meant for us all to be one harmonious song!
As your FAITH is, so be it unto you.
Thanks for being real in an unreal world. Praying for you.
Peoria, Illinois
Awesome testimony. Be encouraged. I will pray for the willof GOD in your life.
This video is one of the most powerful messages that God has for me.
Thank you.