A frequent question asked about the God of The Bible is “Why does God allow bad things to happen to His people?” Many answers are proffered, not all of which provide comfort in times of trial and trouble. We like John MacArthur’s explication:

1. God allows bad things to happen to His people to test the validity of their faith; to determine if their faith is lasting and indestructible i.e. a saving faith. God does this not for His sake, but for ours. So that we may know that we have a saving faith. True faith cannot die no matter the trial. By letting us know our own heart, God is giving us the gift of serenity and confidence. (Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 32:31, Job, Habakkuk 2:4)
2. God allows bad things to happen to His people to wean us from the world and from worldly things and attachments. (Acts 20:24)
3. God allows bad things to happen to His people to call us to heavenly hope and to fill our hearts with anticipation for the glories to come. (Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 4:8)
4. God allows bad things to happen to His people to show us what we really love, all as part of our sanctification. (Abraham / Isaac in Genesis 22)
5. God allows bad things to happen to His people to to teach us obedience. (Psalm 26:2-3, John 8:31-32)
6. God allows bad things to happen to His people to be able to reveal His compassion in our misery. To manifest His nature to us. (Psalm 12:3) God is ever and always concerned to manifest Himself. It is God’s desire that we know Him and see His nature. A God of compassion, grace, mercy, pity. He needs an opportunity to demonstrate that. No calamity, no comfort. (Psalm 63:3)
7. God allows bad things to happen to His people to develop our spiritual strength for greater usefulness. (James 1:2)
8. God allows bad things to happen to His people to enable them to be able to help others in their trials. (2 Corinthians 1:4)