My Summer Update—Why do “bad” things happen to “good” people?
The evening before Easter of this year (2004), something happened in my home that led to the above question. In honor of my 69th birthday, my wife Rose invited eight guests to our home for an evening dinner, a delayed birthday celebration. A matter of minutes before we all were to sit down to enjoy the feast, Rose fell and fracture her hip, right in our kitchen. The mood and what followed of course changed! After we called 911, an ambulance arrived and Rose was soon in the hospital. We told our guests to continue with the meal—which they did, with prayers (except for one who also drove to the hospital).
Now using a cane, Rose has been recovering well, according to her surgeon. But the question above was posed over the phone to me by Rose’s brother. The question, often asked by many, has prodded further thought on my part. It has reminded me of Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. . . .” (NASB).Whether or not the apostle Paul had such happenings as a kitchen fall in mind (and I suspect the verse might even include this), we have seen “good” happen in a circumstance that we would of course not welcome.
First of all, so many have come to our aid, showering us with their prayers, visits, food, and even books! These have included colleagues from the School of Divinity, where I serve, and CBN, where Rose has served. Especially notable has been the several members of our Bible class at the First Baptist Church of Norfolk who shared themselves with us. As I told my class there, we have learned in a new way what it means to have a “family”! We thank God for this.
Then, as I visited a rehab center, where Rose was getting therapy after surgery, I saw people who were lonely—I mean really lonely. I needed this reminder of the lot so many people face in our world today.
More perhaps is yet to unfold to help us fill in the blank of why “bad” things happen to “good” people. Was God behind the accident? That is a hard question to answer. However we know that all which happens is either caused or allowed by our Lord. We can be assured that all works together for good for those who love God, for those who are His and who trust Him.
