Why Do Bad Things Happen? US Adults Answer

Well, according to a new Pew Forum study,

Americans largely blame random chance – along with people’s own actions and the way society is structured – for human suffering, while relatively few believers blame God or voice doubts about the existence of God for this reason.

We don’t have . . . vain hope . . . We have the Word of God that answers the question of suffering.

So how should believers, who love and believe God’s Word, make sense of suffering in the world and in their lives personally? Well, we don’t have the vain hope of the world that somehow this is just “happening for a reason.” We have the Word of God that answers the question of suffering. Here’s what we must know:

1. This isn’t the way things were created—and it’s not how things will always be! God’s original creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31), free from death, suffering, and pain. Man’s sin broke God’s perfect creation and unleashed all of the horrors we see in the world today. But God promises that someday all of this will be done away with, and those who have trusted in Christ for salvation will spend eternity in the new heavens and new earth: a creation restored to what it was at first!
2. God is sovereign. God is the King of all of history, and he is sovereign over all things—including the death and suffering in this world. He is working all things to accomplish his plan, and he promises that, for believers, all things are for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28). Suffering isn’t random or purposeless—but it also isn’t purposeful in the vague sense of “well, everything happens for a reason.” No, the King of all of history is bringing about his good plan, and our temporary pain is “light and momentary” when held up to the glories of eternity with Christ, our Lord (2 Corinthians 4:17).
3. God’s ways are not our ways. “All things working for our good and God’s glory” doesn’t mean we will always understand how or why. When Job experienced great personal suffering, God didn’t appear and explain everything to him. God appeared and showed Job how powerful, magnificent, and awesome he is. Job realized he knew nothing next to the all-powerful, all-wise, all-good God and exclaimed,

I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.”
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:2–6)

Our culture tries to make sense of death and suffering without the hope of the gospel, and all they have is the empty hope of platitudes and “positive thinking.” What people need during dark times is the message that Jesus solved their biggest problem—the debt of sin they can never pay—and he offers new life, forgiveness, eternity with him, and so much more to all who repent and believe.

Ultimately, we need to understand who God truly is and who we are before him, our Creator.

That’s the answer to the question of suffering!

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed today on Answers News with cohosts Bryan Osborne, Bodie Hodge, and Tim Chaffey. Answers News is our twice-weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:

• Peanut butter goes woke.
• Why is the universe intelligible?
• “Very rare” dinosaur uncovered in Brazil.
• And more!

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Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.