If God is good, then why do bad things happen?

God doesn't enjoy bad things happening in this world. However, He allows them to happen because of humanity's choices to walk away from His plan for our lives.

Let me state these 5 points, and then explain them:

1. God originally designed humanity (adam and eve) to only experience the good things in life... not the bad.
2. God will not force us to obey Him; He will simply lead the way, and give us the option to follow.
3. All pain results from sin - disobedience to God
   
4. God loves us, and made a way out of our circumstances through Jesus' death on the cross.
5. God allows and uses bad things to strengthen the people that He loves, if they're willing.

ONE. God created humanity to live in the Garden of Eden, where there was no death or pain. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, sin and death entered the world. There was no pain before the first sin. Our bodies were not created to live in a sinful world.

TWO. He will never force someone to obey, because He wants us to 'choose' to follow Him. But if someone wants to disobey Him, He usually allows them to do so. That's why some people do such horrible things, because God is allowing them to choose wrong. He gives each of us the right to choose, even if the choices we make are bad. However, He wants us to make the right choices, and will help us to carry them out if we look to Him for strength.

THREE. "All pain comes from sin." This means that all pain results either from your own sin, or from someone else's sin. Some pain is simply the result of living in a fallen, sinful world. For example, if a baseball player slides into second base during a game and hurts his knee, that is simply a result of living in a fallen, sinful world. It doesn't mean that he sinned at that moment and brought on the pain through that sin. It also does not necessarily mean that if you're going through a hard time that God is judging you. (The book of Job in the Bible firmly does away with that teaching, as well as several stories with Jesus.) Another example is when someone gets cancer. They may get cancer because of smoking for years, thus a consequence of their sin. However, they may get cancer from no fault of their own. This is just part of living in an imperfect, sinful, fallen world. I know this from personal experience.... my mom had cancer twice when I was in high school. All pain does trace it's origin back to Adam and Eve's first sin. There was no pain before that. And if we ever feel like blaming Adam and Eve, it will help to remember that our own sins along-the-way don't help matters much, either.

FOUR. Many people have asked, "Why doesn't God get involved to help get rid of the bad things in this world?" Well, He did. That's what Christ's death on the cross was all about. When Jesus gave His life sacrificially for our sins, He opened the door to ALL of God's blessings. We must tap into those blessings as the Bible teaches, through faith in and obedience to Christ. When we sin, we make ourselves the enemy of God. But God loves us. In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins in our place.... WHILE WE WERE STILL HIS ENEMIES! (Romans 5:8) How about that. Is that love or what. Do you know for sure that you're saved?

FIVE. Christians should consider bad times a blessing, because those tough times help us to mature in our faith (James 1:2....). And in His timing, God will take the bad things and use them for the good for those who allow Him to. (Rom. 8:28)

If you're not a Christian, why not make the most of your life (as well as secure your eternal destiny) by giving your life to Jesus Christ? If you do, you won't regret it. Click here to see how to do it.

For a more in depth look at this question, please read Rick Rood's article, "The Problem of Evil."

"Why has God allowed terrorism to hit our nation? [answer]