Divorce. Abuse. Crime. Accidents. Job Loss. Death. All are traumatic events that may impact us during our life. Sometimes they are expected, and sometimes they come out of the blue and slap us in the face. Regardless, they all have an impact on our lives.
Why do these things happen? The Bible has many answers to this question. Let’s look at a few examples.
Sometimes things happen because of our own actions. Let’s face it – sometimes we make bad decisions. Understand – I make no judgments. I have made stupid decisions that had terrible results. During my freshman year of college, I went through a very rebellious period that included a great deal of partying. That lifestyle put me in places I shouldn’t have been with people I shouldn’t have been with, and it resulted in some very negative consequences. By the end of that year, I was depressed and suicidal. It was only by the grace of God that I survived. Proverbs 19:3 says, “People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.” (NLT)
God gave us rules to follow, not because he is a tyrant, but because he loves us and wants us to live a long and happy life. We tell our children not to run out in traffic because it is dangerous. Likewise, God tells us not to steal, murder, betray our marriage vows, have sex outside of marriage, etc., because all of these things cause physical and/or emotional pain and can have serious consequences. If you robbed a bank and are now in jail, you probably need to accept the fact that you made a bad decision.
Sometimes things happen because of bad decisions on the part of our parents. An abusive, neglectful, or reckless parent can cause trauma to the child that is no fault of the child. Another example is a parent who isn’t around enough to teach important life skills or bad habits learned by a child from a parent. Lev 26:39 says, “Those of you who survive will waste away in your enemies’ lands because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors.” (NLT)
Does this mean that God would punish us because of our parents’ actions? No. What it does mean is that our parents’ actions have an influence on our lives that can cause us to make poor decisions. At this point I will caution you, however, that regardless of your upbringing, you still have the ability to make choices. You may be strongly influenced by negative behavior (such as smoking), but you are not powerless to make a better choice. My mother grew up in a very dysfunctional home, but she made the decision that she was going to change things in her own family.
Sometimes God needs to send us a wakeup call. In 2017, my family and I moved to Florida. We bought our dream home in our dream state and life was wonderful. But sometimes when things are good, we start to neglect our relationship with the Lord and fall into bad habits, which is exactly what I did. Then I got a wakeup call. Within a short, two-month span, my job was eliminated, four major appliances broke down in our home, an expensive tire needed replacing, and I was named in a frivolous lawsuit from a previous job due to an incident that I knew nothing about! I didn’t handle things well. But I realized that part of the reason I wasn’t handling them well was because I had become disconnected from God. He was still there, but I wasn’t.
Deuteronomy 8:5 says, “Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.” (NLT) Now, there are many who see the word “discipline” and associate it with punishment, but discipline simply means “teaching”, and a disciple is a learner. If we are heading down our own path to destruction, our loving Heavenly Father will discipline us, just as we would discipline a toddler running into traffic or a teen who is making poor life choices. God woke me up and put me on a better path, and I am very glad he did!
Sometimes God is redirecting us because he knows that a different direction is in our best interests. Luke 1:78-79 says this about Jesus: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.” (NLT)
When I was in graduate school, I worked as a graduate assistant academic advisor, which I loved. Toward graduation, two positions opened up in the department, and I was considered a definite hire. One week prior to graduation, the director called me in and told me that she would not be able to hire me, because there were not enough male advisors, and she had been directed to hire men. I was devastated. I yelled at God, stomped my feet and shook my fist. Looking back, I can see that God had the bigger picture. Staying in that environment would have had a negative impact on my life, and I would not be experiencing the abundant life that he has for me. Now, I’m not a believer that “All things happen for a reason!” I don’t believe that at all! See number 1 above – sometimes we do stupid things and get a negative outcome. But some things do happen for a reason, and we may simply not be able to see it yet.
Sometimes we suffer for God’s glory. The early disciples endured beatings, mocking, imprisonment, and even death in order to spread the word of Jesus Christ. They understood that the message of salvation had such eternal purposes that they gladly endured the suffering. Christian persecution, in varying degrees, is still alive and well in our modern world. I have certainly never been physically persecuted for my faith, yet I have been mocked for it with words that left a lasting scar. Regardless, I consider those scars as nothing compared to the scars my Savior endured for me.
Sometimes, things just happen! You did nothing wrong. Your parents did nothing wrong. God is not sending you a wakeup call. You are not being persecuted for your faith beliefs. In spite of all of this, something terrible just happened. Why? Why? WHY? The answer is this… we live in a fallen world. We live in a world marred by sin, and that will cause suffering to everyone living in it. Crime, disease, deception, accidents… they are here, because throughout the centuries, people have made bad decisions that have had lasting effects on our world. The world is decaying and sadly, no amount of conservation effort will eliminate the devastation of centuries of sin. And, as Christians, we know that this world is not our home.
When bad things happen, sometimes it is just a reminder that God has something so much better in mind for us, and it turns our focus on Heaven itself. I remember a day when I was headed to yet another court hearing. My mind was focused on protecting my daughter, but I was also praying for my elderly father who was undergoing heart surgery. I was angry with my ex-husband for creating a situation in which I had to deal with the stress of court and not be there for my parents. Then, while I prayed, I looked up and simply said, “Thank you Lord that this is not all there is!” In that moment, I experienced profound joy! I cannot explain it in any other way than the work of the Spirit as I remembered that this is not my home.
Whatever the reason is that you are going through a difficult time or dealing with a traumatic situation, please know that God loves you. He wants to heal you, direct you, and help you grow from this. Note the words of Jesus in John 10:10: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (NLT) Understand that Jesus isn’t saying that we will only have a great life once we’re in Heaven. He wants us to have a rich and satisfying life here on earth as well. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen for you.
Songs of Victory
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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