In light of the recent floods in Texas, a question that has surfaced, and has echoed through the centuries, is: Why do bad things happen to good people? Behind this question is often deep pain—tragedy, loss, injustice, or confusion over why life feels so unfair. When we look around and see the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper, it can shake our faith.
But the Bible doesn’t avoid this question. In fact, it addresses it head-on—not by giving a simple answer, but by pointing us to a deeper, more hopeful truth: God is good, God is sovereign, and God is working out an eternal plan that far outweighs our present pain.
1. While we can do good things, only God is perfectly good and holy.
We must first consider the definition of “good.” Jesus Himself said in Luke 18:19,
“No one is good—except God alone.”
This doesn't mean people can’t do good things, but it reminds us that all of humanity is broken by sin. We live in a fallen world—not as victims of God’s neglect, but as participants in a creation that has been marred by human rebellion since Eden. The suffering we experience is a result of this brokenness, not necessarily our individual actions.
2. The Bible Is Honest About the Righteous Suffering
Scripture is full of people who loved God and still suffered:
Job was called “blameless and upright,” yet he lost everything.
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and imprisoned, even though he remained faithful.
David, a man after God’s heart, fled for his life for years.
Paul, the great missionary, endured beatings, shipwrecks, and prison.
Even Jesus, the only truly innocent person, was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). The suffering of God’s people is not a mark of divine punishment, but often a doorway to something deeper: God’s refining, redeeming, eternal work.
3. God Uses Suffering to Refine and Draw Us Closer
Romans 8:28 gives this promise:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
This doesn't mean everything is good—but that God is working through everything for a greater good. He uses trials to strengthen our faith, deepen our dependence on Him, and shape our character. As 1 Peter 1:6–7 explains, our trials test the genuineness of our faith, refining it like gold in fire.
4. Our Present Pain Is Not the Final Word
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18,
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
God’s plan doesn’t end with pain—it ends with restoration. For those in Christ, there is a promise that every tear will be wiped away, and death and suffering will be no more (Revelation 21:4). What we endure now is temporary; what awaits us is eternal.
1 Corinthians 2:9 beautifully declares:
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
This is our hope—not that this life will be free of pain, but that the next will be free of sorrow.
5. God’s Eternal Plan Is Better Than We Can Imagine
If you are walking through suffering today and wondering “why me?”, know that God sees. He is not distant or disinterested. He stepped into suffering Himself through Jesus. He carries your pain, and He is weaving even this part of your story into a tapestry of eternal redemption.
The cross looked like the ultimate defeat, but it became the gateway to eternal victory. Your story, too, may include chapters of deep pain—but in Christ, it ends in glory.
Conclusion
Why do bad things happen to good people? Because we live in a broken world where suffering is real. But why can the people of God still hope? Because God is sovereign, and His eternal plan is good.
If you belong to Him, your pain is not wasted, and your future is secure. In the hands of God, even suffering becomes a seed for eternal glory.
If you’re not sure whether you belong to God, know this: He wants you—just as you are. You don’t have to earn His love or fix your life first. Through Jesus, God made a way for you to be forgiven, restored, and brought into His family. If your heart is open, you can pray: “God, I want to belong to You. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I give You my life—make me Yours.” If you want to talk more, don’t stay silent—reach out. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.