why bad things happen

1. We live in a broken world.
The obvious choice of stories here is Genesis, but I also like 1 Peter 4:12: "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."

People: It's hard!
God: No kidding!

2. We mess up. Either accidentally, or by intentionally ignoring God's instruction (sin).
I always pray for my children to "make wise decisions," which has to do with them learning what God desires. But Paul says it of adults, too:

Romans 7:21-23 (The Message)
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

3. We are caught in the wake of someone's else's mess-up or sin.
Jeremiah 31:29 says, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." There was an article in last week's paper about methamphetamine addicts, and how they become so focused on a single thing that they forget their children for weeks at a time. That's what this text is about.

See the next post for the most important reason why something that seems bad can actually be a good thing...