Week 8
Why Do Bad Things Happen?

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

     God allows hurtful circumstances in my life to help cleanse me of sin, to draw me closer to Him, and to enhance my testimony for future service. When we correctly respond to suffering, we will be able to experience true joy, regardless of circumstances.
     [Note: Even though you may not be suffering right now, learn this lesson to prepare you for when suffering comes!]
     Romans 8:28 assures us that “... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God loves His children so much! “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” – Romans 8:32.
     God loves us and works things together for our benefit. Why then does God allow suffering? Understanding this principle is vital to having a right response to difficult things in life.

Questions:
     1.) Define suffering in your own words.





     2.) What different forms of suffering have you experienced? (Examples: Sickness, loneliness, change...)





Discuss:  Why do you think people have to suffer?

      Suffering is a fact of life.  “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you”. — 1 Peter 4:12.

      God is both sovereign (in complete control) and loving.  Look up the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each one:
Psalm 116:5


Psalm 135:5-6


     Therefore, God could stop suffering if He wanted to, but He allows it for His perfect purposes. “... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28. “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” — Psalm 18:30.

Purposes for Suffering:

  • Suffering may be a consequence of sin. God does not force His ways on humans; He offers a choice of either accepting or rejecting Him. Those who reject God choose sin. Under God’s righteous law, what are the consequences for sin? (Read Galatians 6:7 and Romans 6:23.)



    Read Luke 13:1-5. What does this passage reveal about how we should respond to the suffering we see in the world?



    When our small human minds cannot understand what God does, we must trust His greater wisdom and character.  Look up the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each one:
    Job 37:5



    Job 37:23



    Isaiah 55:8-9



    God’s purpose for allowing suffering as a consequence of sin is to bring about repentance in the hearts of sinners. “The Lord is... not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9.

  • Suffering may be a means of refinement. Those who work with precious metals heat the metal to a very high temperature in order to bring the dross (impurities) to the top, where it can be poured off. This process ensures the purity, value, and beauty of the precious metal.
         God often works in this same way with us. “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.” — Proverbs 17:3. He can use suffering like a refiner’s fire to reveal to us hidden sins and cleanse us from them. Suffering tests us, and helps to purify us. This is all part of God’s work toward His ultimate goal of conforming our character to that of Jesus Christ.
         Read Psalm 138:8 and Proverbs 3:11-12. How do these verses show that God’s purposes for allowing suffering in our lives are truly loving?




  • Suffering may be a means of humbling. Suffering reveals our weaknesses and character deficiencies. This motivates us to have an attitude of humility, and to strive for righteousness in all areas of our lives.
         God can use suffering to remind us of how much we need Him. Suffering helps us to set our affection on eternal things, rather than worldly things. When life is going wonderfully for us, we have a tendency to get all wrapped up in our activities, our friends, our goals, etc., and not focus on God as much as we should.
         When suffering comes, we are faced with problems and pressures too big for us to handle. Then we are motivated to cry out to God and draw closer to Him as we seek His answers to our problems. Often it is during the most difficult times in life that we experience the most spiritual growth.

    Read the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each one:

    • Deuteronomy 8:3


    1 Peter 5:5-7



  • Suffering may be a means of bringing us into deeper fellowship with God. It is amazing how God can use suffering to reveal Himself to us and bring us closer to Him. Suffering opens up deeper insights into God’s Word and promotes spiritual fruit in our lives. We can then better help others with the deep lessons and truths that God has taught us.

    Read the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each one:

    • John 15:2



    John 15:8



    Philippians 3:10



    1 Peter 4:13



         Based on what we have learned about the purposes for suffering, how do you think we should respond when suffering comes into our own lives?




         The Bible tells us that we should rejoice when God gives us the opportunity to be partakers of Christ’s suffering. If we get hurt feelings and become offended when difficulties come, we are not making the best use of God’s purposes for allowing suffering.
         Suffering can come in many different forms. What suffering is God currently allowing in your life?





         What purposes do you think God may be working to accomplish through the suffering in your life?




     Week 8 memory work: Choose at least one verse from the following list. Memorize the verse(s) that you think will be the most helpful for you to remember:
  • 1 Peter 4:12-13
  • Isaiah 55:8-9
  • Philippians 3:10

     Jennifer's dream had come true! As a little girl she had longed to be an actress. Growing up, she'd acted minor roles in a few plays and dreamed of a famous career. Someday she would play the part of a brilliant heroine and turn the Christian movie industry around, she felt sure!
     Now at fifteen years old, her first big opportunity arrived. The director of her city's Christmas play had asked her to star as Mary. Jennifer could not have been more excited. What an opportunity to witness -- and show others her talent!
     She practiced her lines every day. The rehearsals were perfect. Everyone was impressed.
     And now, the night before the first performance, she was breaking out with -- the chicken pox.
     Jennifer couldn't believe the fever and red dots on her face were reality. How could God do this to her? She had been so sure this was His will! The understudy for Mary was pathetic, and the whole play would be a failure. Her life dream of being an actress was seriously set back.
     How should Jennifer respond? Why do you think God would allow something like this to happen to her?