We all have been at a place where asked that question: I’m a good person. Why did this *insert bad thing* happen to me? I believe that we all have a different view of good and bad, but generally, we have all seen both of those times in our own lives and more so in the lives of others. So, why, you ask, do bad things happen to good people?

Yes, I have seen a lot less “bad” than many people in the world - even the people in my own hometown. I am forever grateful for that. I have always had a roof over my head and clothes on my back. I have been surrounded by people who love me (even if I refused to look around and see what I had). I was fortunate enough to be born into a family that believed in God and believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. There were many times that I looked into my own life and thought it was hard or bad, but when I look around at some of the hurt that other people go through, I am humbled by the blessings I have.

The problem is that bad things DO happen to good people. It happens at the most unexpected time in some of the simplest of ways. When these bad things happen, it isn’t about what actually happened. It is about the people who were affected by that event. My best friend in high school is one of those people. Her brother was involved in a fatal car accident during our sophomore year. I was left humbled and in awe. This young boy had such a powerful impact on our high school community. He knew so many people and he showed the love of God to those people in the 16 years that he was here. Over 60 people accepted Jesus into their hearts because of this very bad thing.

I am not saying that everything happens for a reason, but I am saying that God has a plan for everyone’s life. God’s plan is like an atlas – we have to choose the roads we take, but has the big parts literally mapped out for us. There are so many different paths we could take to get to that one place he has in mind for us.

Back to that question, that one we always have after something bad happens and affects our lives: Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, the way I see it, as long as there is evil in the world, we will always experience bad things despite how good we are. We have the God of the universe there to protect us, comfort us, support us, and help us through these harder times of our lives. Even when we can’t see Him, He might have sent that unexpected friend or that new person at work that we aren’t good friends with yet. God’s got this. We’ve got God.

Hope y’all are having a great start to this week!

Sydney