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How to Surrender to a God Who Lets Bad Things Happen

The Bible teaches that all things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28). It also says that we should glory in tribulations (Romans 5:3). So, how does that work when a loved one is murdered? How does a person, who was molested for years as a child, glory in that tribulation? When a person is raped, how does that work together for good? Is God sadistic, or what?

It appears to me that there is a lot of anger towards God, for these seemingly good reasons. In Christians, this anger is often hidden, stuffed down deep inside. It's just not cool to be angry with God, when you're a Christian. But whenever we stuff things that are troubling us, rather than dealing with them, it's like cancer. Those hidden malignant cells grow and grow until we can no longer function normally. Eventually, it becomes excruciatingly painful.

Many don't want to deal with it, because it's painful to talk about it. But the pain of not dealing with it will eventually overwhelm us. So, why not talk about it? Why not be honest about our relationship with God? "Our Father which art in Heaven"(Lk11:2) is big enough to handle being criticized and even yelled at. When we talk things out with God and maybe even with each other, and pray for one another, we come out of isolation. The enemy hates it when that happens because that's when he begins to lose his fiendish grip on us.

James 5:16 Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

1Jn1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in [Christ], not having a righteousness of my own, ... but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

So, what about a God who lets bad things happen? Why is that? Why doesn't He just zap those murderers, rapists, and pedophiles? Those people are soooo sinful!! What about a God who lets sin happen? Why doesn't He just zap all those sinners? Why doesn't He give them all (including you and me) what they deserve -- death -- right now?! For, the Bible says, "There is no one who does good ... For all have sinned..." and "the wages of sin is death."( Romans 3:12,23; Romans 6:23 )

Why did Jesus humble Himself to become a human in this sinful world? Why did He risk His eternal life to die to make atonement for your sins(and mine), instead of giving us the eternal death that we deserve? Why did He allow sin to raise its ugly head in the first place? And, why, when death is swallowed up in victory(Hosea13:14;1Cor15:54), will sin NEVER raise its ugly head again?

May I suggest that the answer to all of these questions can be summed up in one word? IMHO, the reason is "LOVE"(agápē). Our Father and His only-born Son, Jesus Christ, love us so much that They value our freedom of choice more than They value the life of Jesus. For our Heavenly Father so loved us that He gave His only-born Son...(John 3:16).

"None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption; for only He who was in the bosom of the Father( Jn1:18 ) could declare Him. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father's love to lost humanity." (Steps to Christ, 14:2)

According to my understanding, It is freedom of choice that that allows the rapist, murder, and pedophile to do all their evil deeds. It is freedom of choice that has brought all pain and suffering into this world. But, when tribulations come, and God's will is restricted by the evil will of humans and fallen angels, we can be assured that God is suffering right along with us (Mt25:40).

We can be assured that God will do everything He can to bring us out of that tribulation. We can be assured that, if we cooperate with Him, He will deliver us from those sins that so easily beset us (Heb12:1). Let us never forget that it is freedom of choice that can bring us out of this world and into Heavenly places. For, He will never leave us nor forsake us(Heb13:5; Jn14:18; Mt28:20 ). That, my friend, is why I choose to surrender my will to my Loving Heavenly Father who lets bad things happen. My God not only loves, but His character is what defines love. That's my God, the "only true God" and that's my Jesus, our only Lord.

Jeremiah 10:10 But the Lord(Hebrew: Jehovah) is the only true God. He is the living God ...

John 17:1,3 ... Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father... this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

1 Corinthians 8:6 But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created... And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created...

Romans 5:3 We can rejoice... when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

Romans 8:28 … God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God...

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord… is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Hebrews 12:1 … Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

But wait! What about those who have committed some really bad sins. I have. If you have also, remember that it was your God-given freedom of choice that allowed you to do these things - even though it cost Jesus His life!

So, how do you feel about that? Is God’s grace sufficient for you? Have you ever felt that what you have done is too horrible for God to forgive and accept you? Do you even qualify for God's grace? Paul gave us a list of 4 qualities. If we have even one of those qualities, then we qualify for God's grace. Check it out in =>

Romans 5:6-11 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Are you weak? Are you ungodly? Are you a sinner? Are, or were you, an enemy of God? If so, YOU QUALIFY FOR GRACE!

Is that GOOD NEWS?! If so, then confess your sins to God in Jesus name. When you do this, you will be forgiven and given the robe of Christ's righteousness!

After we’ve accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, what happens when we stumble and fall?

A wise person once said that it is not the occasional deed, or misdeed, that determines our destiny. Rather, it is the general direction of our life.

When I make a mistake -- when I stumble and fall -- the temptation is to think that I've lost my salvation and that I may as well just continue down that evil path. But that really is just a temptation, from a "roaring lion" ( 1 Peter 5:8 ) that has no teeth! The truth is that "Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy... Jehovah is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him... He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust." ( Psalm 103:8-14 ).

I need not buy into the enemy's lie, because "the mercy of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" ( Psalm 103:17 ). And I do fear and honor God. I do love Him and want to serve Him with all my heart. Do You? When I sometimes mess up, it's not because I want to turn away from Him. It's because I failed to surrender to Him in the moment of temptation. There really is a difference.

So, what do I do when I fail? I promptly admit my mistake, apologize where needed, and move on with life. But, some may ask, is it really that simple? My answer is, It's only that simple if don't want to call God a liar, for the apostle John told us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ( 1John 1:9 ) So, rather than believing the father of lies, I choose to believe Jehovah, my loving Heavenly Father – the Father of MERCY, FORGIVENESS, and LOVE.

But, what about those sins that most easily beset us - those sins that we repeat over and over? Did you know that Jesus said that He can do nothing without His Father? You can read about that in John 5:19,30; 8:28 . Did you know that Jesus also said that you can do nothing without him? You can read about that in John 15:1-5 . And Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" You can read about that in Philippians 4:13 .

So, I have a question for those who are like I was, those who keep repeating the same sins over and over again. => Would you like to "do all things through Christ who strengthens" you? Would you like to overcome as Jesus overcame sin? You can. Jesus is our perfect example. So, let's consider how Jesus dealt with temptation when He was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane. You can read about it in Matthew 26:36-44; Luke 22:39-46 . It was this very night, in Gethsemane, when Jesus told his disciples that they could do nothing without Him. In John 15 Jesus explained how He is the vine and we are the branches. So, why should I be so arrogant as to think that I can do anything worthwhile without Jesus! What do you think about that?

In Proverbs 3:34, then echoed by James chapter 4:6 and again in 1Peter 5:5, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".

Friends, it is pride that says, "All that the Lord has said, I will do". It was pride that caused the disciples to tell Jesus that they would not desert or deny Him. It was pride that gave false security to the disciples as they fell asleep instead of humbly, yet diligently, seeking God after Jesus plainly warned them to watch and pray so that they wouldn't fall into temptation ( Lk 22:40 ).

But, it was humility during His greatest temptation that caused Jesus to kneel and pray, "Father, if it be possible, please let this cup of suffering pass from me". It was humility that caused Jesus to defer to Father God's will, when He said, "Nevertheless, I want your will to be done, rather than mine" ( Lk 22:42 ). Jesus is always our best example. I want to be more like Jesus, seeking The Father in humble submission in Jesus' name.

Jesus was severely tested and suffered greatly that night in Gethsemane. In Mark 14:32-35, we see that after leaving the rest of His disciples and taking Peter, James, and John a litter further, "He became deeply troubled and distressed. [In fact,] He told them, 'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Then He went a little further and fell to the ground." Oh, how He must have wished that His three best friends would have prayed with Him and encouraged Him in this, His great hour of need. In Luke 22:44 we see that "He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood as He plead with Father God to take this cup of suffering away from Him. Not once; not twice; but three times Jesus made this plea. Three times He asked in humble submission, agreeing to go through anything if it be the Father's will.

Oh friends, how often do we shrink from hardship, temptation and loss? How often do we tell Father God what we think we need instead of humbly submitting to His will, asking Him what He would have us do? ( Acts 9:6 ) How often do we pity ourselves in our suffering instead of trusting that all things work together for good for them, for us, who love Him? Romans 8:28 Do we trust Him that much?

It was because of the joy awaiting Jesus, that "he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." ( Hebrews 12:2 ).

Do we trust Jesus enough to rejoice "when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment." Do we really believe how dearly God loves us? Do we really believe that he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love? - Romans 5:3-5 . Or, would we rather just continue our pity party and blame God for our situation?

Jesus is our perfect example. As He suffered there in the Garden of Gethsemane, dying to self, humbly submitting to Father God, it is recorded in Luke 22:43 that an angel from God arrived to strengthen Jesus. In the same way, as we choose to humbly submit to God in our time of trouble - in our temptations, as we choose to die to our wishes and live to serve God, I believe that He sends an angel to strengthen us also. That must be why Jesus strongly encouraged His disciples to watch and to pray.

Yes, friends, Jesus is our perfect example!

I have a longer answer as to how to defeat temptation in my 30-minute recorded personal testimony => http://sidnash.org/WillPower

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )

-Sid Nash: 11/24/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/WhySurrender.html