This is one question that consistently comes up: Why do bad things happen to Christians?

The reason why we have such difficulty with this question is because we have a false idea of the purpose of life.

We think the purpose of life is to be happy and comfortable.

Therefore, we believe God, if He loves us, should make our circumstances such that we should be happy and comfortable.

But what if the purpose of life wasn’t our happiness and comfort, but to become like His Son, Jesus? Then…

There will be affliction.
There will be suffering.
There will be loneliness.
There will be unanswered prayers.
There will be rejections.

Especially to those who are His children! If you saw this as the purpose of life, it makes perfect sense that God’s children go through much suffering in life.

Ps. 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.”

God disciplines those whom He loves…(Prov. 3:12)

Bad things happening to you? That may be a sign that you are God’s child.

PH