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Bad Things Happen

Pastor P definitely brought it this morning at NewSpring Church...I can't remember the last time I had to write so feverishly to try and get down everything he said. It was just plain good. I am so thankful to have a pastor that I know I can trust to deliver exactly what God has for him to deliver.

Perry spoke today about why bad things happen to good people. I feel that this is something that Christians and non-Christians both struggle with...if there is a God, and he is supposedly so good, why does he let bad things happen? Why do young people die? Why does your car break down at a time that you are absolutely broke and have no way to fix it? Why do your parents get a divorce? Why do people you love get cancer? I could list all the "why" questions I've heard for hours...probably days...and we would never get an actual answer. Bad things just happen. It has nothing to do with how good anyone is. They just happen. I want to share some things I took away from the message today, because I think it is such a valuable thing for everyone to hear.

First is first. God is ALWAYS good. Always. I might not ever know why something happened in my life (on this side of eternity), but I will ALWAYS know that God is good. If Perry had stopped right there, I think I would have been okay...I mean, once you know that God is good, you know that everything he does leads to good. God doesn't give bad gifts. Whatever happens in your life has happened for a reason...Romans 8:28 says , "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." In ALL things God works for the good of those who love him. Praise Jesus. This part of the sermon reminded me of the NewSpring Story of Zac Smith. His life certainly seemed a tragedy...when I first heard his story, I thought, "Why would something so sad happen to such a strong Christian family?" Then I watched his video, and I heard him say, "This I do know...If God chooses to heal me, then God is God, and God is good. If God chooses not to heal me, and allows me to die, God is still God, and God is still good. To God be the glory." What an example for each of us. One thing Perry asked us in the message today really stuck out to me. He said, "Are we going to allow circumstances to negate our belief in God or are we going to let our belief in God reign over our circumstances?" What a question. Our God is greater than any circumstance, and He is ALWAYS good. No matter what.

Something else I found to be very important is the reminder that God does not punish His children. He prepares them. When God sent the lion and the bear to take David's sheep, causing David to fight and kill the animals, he was not punishing him for something he did. He was preparing him for his battle against Goliath. I had never made that specific connection before, but it is some serious truth. What a beautiful example of God using something tragic to prepare a person to become a hero for Christ. David did not let tragedy identify him. Instead, he was identified by triumph, and we all can do that in our own lives.

In the good and the bad, God is in charge. It's a wonderful thing to know and trust that in every tragedy, there will be triumph.

Thank you, Jesus.

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