Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-16 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Devotional: Why does God let bad things happen to good people? This is the age-old question that never seems to be answered quite the way people want it to be. Really, when people ask this question, they are often questioning and pondering the character of God. Either they themselves or someone they love has gone through a deep, dark season. Have you ever asked this question? Even if you or someone close to you hasn’t gone through a period of suffering, it doesn’t take much to look outside at the world and see all the evil that exists. You may start to wonder why God allows suffering.
The first verse of our passage of Scripture today is a reminder that we should not be surprised when we suffer. Christ suffered while He was here on this earth, too. And He does not ask us to endure something that He himself did not endure. We are called on to rejoice in these sufferings. If we are persecuted because we claim Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we should count it as a blessing because it means that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We should expect to suffer when we claim this. Peter, the author of 1 Peter, tells us that we should not be surprised.
We need to take a step back and recognize that all the evil in this world is a result of sin. God does not create anything bad. Everything He creates is good, and He even declared it so. Nevertheless, sin entered the world and people now endure hardships and trials as a result. We should expect this as Christians, as we will often look very different from the world in the way that we live our lives. We also know that God uses these seasons of suffering to bring glory to Him. We should not be surprised, and we should not question why God would let it be so. When we are in the midst of a deep, dark season, rather than asking why God lets bad things happen to good people, let’s find comfort in the fact that He sent Jesus for us, and He experienced more suffering than we could ever imagine. We should not be surprised when suffering and trials come our way when we desire to live a life like Jesus did. And when the question “why does God let bad things happen to good people?” makes its way to the surface yet again, be reminded that God has the bigger picture in mind and uses it all for His glory and His good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”
Reflect:
- Have you ever wrestled with the question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people?
- Knowing you should not be surprised when you face trials, how might you respond in future suffering so that God is glorified?