Suffering? Where is God? Why do bad things happen togoodpeople?

Blog by Tammy Fager

THE UNFAIRNESS OF LIFE: Where is God When Good People Suffer?

This is one of the hardest and most honest questions anyone can whisper to the heavens. Whether you are looking at the headlines or your own real life, the contradiction seems unbearable. We see countless people striving to do the right thing, yet they face much pain. Conversely, we see bad people seeming to prosper. For many Americans and believers around the world, this gap between our expectations of a good God and the

reality of terrible things can shake the most fundamental principles of faith.

1. The False Promise of Merit

It is easy to believe in the goodness of God when a prayer is answered or a blessing is received. However, at those moments, we often mistakenly reduce faith to a system of merit: I do good, and therefore God will grant me blessings.

When we adopt this legalistic contract, we assume that living the right way will provide the necessary protection from the bad stuff. When bad things happen to good people, faith is fundamentally challenged, forcing us to trust in God's love and hold fast to hope beyond understanding—even when His plan makes no earthly sense.

The Origin of Suffering: Free Will

The fact is that we live in an imperfect world, where the consequences of bad choices affect countless people. A loving God allows human beings the power of choice (free will), which includes the freedom to:

• Make bad choices that hurt others.

• For evil people to cause terrible things to happen.

God tolerates these choices temporarily because He values our freedom to choose Him. He is not the author of evil, but He allows it to exist so that genuine love can flourish.

2. The Inescapable Reality of the Fallen World

We must understand that good people are subject to the flaws of this world.

• Natural Evil: Sickness and disease (a natural evil) are not a punishment from God. They are the result of living in a universe where the natural laws and biological systems are imperfect.

• No Immunity: There is no immunity for a virtuous person. As long as we rely on limited human knowledge (doctors, scientists, researchers), and live in a physically imperfect world, tragedies can strike unjustly.

  
  

Tragedies, including death, are never outside of God's knowledge or ultimate plan. The Christian response is to trust that God can weave even a tragic, unjust event into a larger purpose that we cannot comprehend. God is not distant. He is in the ICU room, he is at the crash site. He is not indifferent to our pain; He is experiencing it with us.

3. The Ultimate Answer: Jesus Christ

If we wonder, "Does God really know my pain?" we look to the cross.

The Ultimate Good Person: Jesus Christ, the ultimate good person, had the worst things happen. He is the ultimate evidence that being good does not grant immunity from suffering.

The Shared Suffering: By going to the cross, Jesus demonstrated that God is not just an all-powerful being watching from above; He is a loving God who chose to experience and endure pain alongside us.

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4. Growth Over Comfort (The Eternal Perspective)

If life were always easy and good things always came to good people, we would not need to develop deep faith, compassion, endurance, or humility. We would focus entirely on earthly rewards.

The suffering we experience now is viewed as "light and momentary troubles" when compared to the eternal glory promised in heaven.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

Jesus Christ himself said, "In this world you will have trouble." He did not promise a life free of negative experiences; He promised His presence through them.

5. SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY?

When usual coping mechanisms fail, we must move from confusion to action. This is the step-by-step process for finding purpose in the pain:

A. Acknowledge and Lament

• Be Honest: Fully and honestly acknowledge the pain and injustice of the bad things that happened.

• Practice Lament: Acknowledge the devastating reality of the imperfect world.

• Reject False Guilt: Do not fall into the trap of believing the tragedy happened because you weren’t a good person or didn’t have enough faith.

  
  

B. Shift the Question

• From "Why Me?" to "What Now Lord?": The reason for the event is often beyond your grasp. Instead of endlessly seeking the "Why," shift your focus to what God is inviting you to do with this pain.

• Reclaim Free Will: While you couldn’t control the tragedy, you can control your response. Use your free will to choose faith, endurance, and grace, rather than bitterness. This is the start of finding purpose in the pain.

  
  

C. Depend on God’s Strength

• Focus on the Cross: When you feel alone in your pain, remember the Shared Suffering—God did not exempt Himself from suffering; He entered it.

• Depend on the Holy Spirit: You are not expected to move forward in your own strength. Rely on the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26) to intercede for you and give you the strength to endure.

  
  

Conclusion: How to Survive and Thrive

God is the master of bringing beauty out of ashes. He can eventually take this tragedy and weave it into something that matters.

• Check Your Perspective: Stop asking "Why is this happening to me?" and start asking "Where is God in this?" Shift to an eternal perspective.

• Lean on the Word: The Word of God is your anchor. It reminds you that this life is just a mist compared to eternity.

• Trust the Character of God: Even when you don't understand the plan, trust the Planner. He is a good God who weeps with you.

Look for the Good: Even in the darkest times, there are small examples of grace—a friend bringing a meal, a sunset, a moment of peace.

Don't let the bad things steal your hope. The first things to remember are that you are loved, you are not alone, and one day, God will wipe away every tear.

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Meet the Author & Her Partner in Faith

Tammy Fager: Giver of Thanks & Seeker of Simple Blessings ✍️

As the author of this blog, Tammy has a grateful heart for the simple blessings God provides every day, especially the daily bread we pause to bless. After retiring from a busy career, she now focuses on sharing her passion for a genuine, relational Christian faith and acknowledging that the Lord God is the source of all things. Along with her husband, Bruce, she believes in practicing an attitude of gratitude that transforms the daily routine into a joyful expression of trust in our Heavenly Father. Tammy and Bruce have been married for 38 years, raising two wonderful children, and their foundation remains centered on the love of Christ and the good practice of giving glory to God in every season.

Bruce Fager: An Artist Acknowledging God's Provision 🎨

Bruce, Tammy's husband and lifelong best friend, has a deep understanding of God's provision as both a retired law enforcement officer and a visionary artist behind God's Country Art. His work in carving beautiful pieces from wood is a tangible reflection of the beauty found in God's good gifts and the good land He provides. Bruce is committed to a simple, faith-filled life, focused on following the example of the Lord Jesus by being a devoted husband and father. He and Tammy continue their adventure together, constantly reminded that their work, their love, and their family are all a perfect gift from the Hand of God.

They invite you to see the artistic blessings they are sharing at GodsCountryArt.com