Why Do Bad Things Keep Happening?

I love Job 23:10 which says, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” The Lord knows our path and He does bring tests into our lives. Our hope is that through His strength in us, we can “come forth as gold.” We can look more like Jesus after the test is over.

I think about Paul who had a “thorn in his side.” He begged God to take it away, but ultimately the Lord allowed it to be there to help Paul cling to Him and glorify Him in the midst of his weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 says, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Whether you are seeing the negative results of sin in the fallen world, the hurtful choices of others that are impacting you, or God is testing you to be refined, bad things do happen and will happen here on the earth. We do not have to be surprised when hard times occur because we are clearly told in Scripture that they will happen. We do not have to like the trial or look forward to hardship. Even Jesus asked God the Father to take away the cross before Him because He knew it would be hard (Luke 22:42). However, He said, “Not my will, but Yours.” Jesus still endured the cross, but He came out on the other side alive and freed us.

Below are some encouraging Scriptures to cling to in hard times. God love you so much and He is with you and is never leaving you in this trial without His presence.

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Photo credit: ©Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

Emma Danzey’s mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and mom to Graham. Emma serves alongside her husband in ministry, she focuses most of her time in the home, but loves to provide articles on the Bible, life questions, and Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 on Crosswalk in 2021. Most recently, Emma released Treasures for Tots, (Scripture memory songs) and multiple books and devotionals for young children. During her ministry career, Emma has released Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness, two worship EP albums, founded and led Polished Conference Ministries, and ran the Refined Magazine. You can view her articles on her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com and check out her Instagram @Emmadanzey.