Matthew 6:7-8 (NASB) 7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Q1. Why do bad things happen to “good” people and to God’s people?

John 11:26 – Jesus’ good friend died before He arrived-- Lazarus

Mark 5:24 – The woman w/12-yr. issue of blood.

John 5:6 – The 38-yr. paralyzed man at the pool

John 9:35 – The man born blind from birth

John 4 - The woman at the well with 5 ex-husbands

Job 2:6 - 10 (NLT) 6“All right, do with him as you please,” the LORD said to Satan. “But spare his life.” 7So Satan left the LORD’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.

8Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes.

9His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

10But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

1. Fact check:
   1. God is sovereign and controls and/or allows everything.
      • Matthew 6: 8 (NASB) 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
      • Job 42:1 - 2 (NLT) 1Then Job replied to the LORD:2 “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.
      • Job 1:20 - 22 (NLT) 20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.

21 He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.

The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away.

Praise the name of the LORD!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

2. Technically, NO ONE is good.

Luke 18:18 - 19 (NLT) 18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

Romans 3:23 (NLT) 23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

3. Even “bad” things come from or through God for His reasons.

Romans 9:17 - 22 (NLT)

17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”

18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”

20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”

4. Not ALL “bad” things are bad.

2 Corinthians 12:8 - 10 (NLT)

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Monday Morning Moment: “God’s (so called) worst, is better than Satan’s best!” Romans 8:28 (NLT) 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.