This is a tough pill to swallow. God cares infinitely more about our spiritual lives and the spiritual lives of those around us than He does about our physical lives. He will use our physical lives in both positive and negative ways to strengthen the spiritual health of people. This is clearly shown when Jesus answered the disciples about the man born blind in John 9:2-3.
“And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The disciples “knew” that sin caused the blindness. They were just asking which sin caused it. That means that not only did the man live without his sight, but he also lived with the incorrect judgement of people around him about being a sinful person. God let both of these things happen so that “the works of God may be displayed in him.” Later in the chapter, the man was even kicked out of the synagogue for his right assessment of the healing.
There are several major reasons that bad things happen to seemingly good people.
Sometimes it is a natural or God given consequence of hidden actions. God can and does use these actions to further His Kingdom. It becomes a powerful example of God’s redemption. Samson’s lust after Delilah and David’s adultery and murder are both examples. Samson killed more of the Israelites enemies in his death than in his life. King Solomon was the second son of Bathsheba after God killed the first one as a consequence to David.
Other times God uses harsh events in our lives to lead other people to Him. He did with the blind man, and the woman with the discharge of blood for 12 years, and the lame man at the pool of Silom for 38 years. In Acts 3 and 4, God heals a 40+ year old man born lame and the miracle is more significant because of his age.
As observers we do not know which is occurring, but I pray that we are more open than the disciples in recognizing God’s work.
