Why do bad things happen

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Job 20:1–22:30 
2 Corinthians 1:1-11 
Psalm 40:11-17 
Proverbs 22:2-4

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT) "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

If you are following along in The One Year Bible reading program, you are reading through the book of Job. It can be a laborious section of Scripture to read - unless you know why it was written. 

Essentially, Job was written to deal with the problem of why bad things happen. The whole book is an attempt by various people to explain why life gets tough until God steps into the conversation to give the final word and end it.

To be sure, there are a LOT of reasons why bad things happen:

In Job's case, it was a cosmic battle that had little to do with Job. 
Sometimes, it is simply because we live in a broken world.
Sometimes, it is because we are receiving the consequences of our sin or the sin choices of someone else.
Sometimes, it is because we are being disciplined by God for unrepentant sin.
On and on and on we could go.

When we arrive at 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, we realize that whatever the cause for difficulties, there is a benefit. In a world where life gets tough, it is nice to know that we aren't in it alone and that others know what it feels like and can help us in the trial.

That is what our Verse for Today is about. It says that when we go through trials and are comforted by the Lord (in whatever form it takes), then we are able to comfort and help others when they are going through trials, too.

The Lord acknowledges that this it will get tough living in this sin-sick world (John 16:33). But, He is not content to allow us to get overwhelmed by the trials. He wants to comfort us and then to comfort each other in those trials.

APPLICATION:
How can you reach out and receive the Lord's comfort today? (Begin with slow, reflective time in His Word.)

Who can you comfort today that is going through some really tough times?

The purpose of God's comfort

Life is tough. Sometimes, life is downright painful.

But, for the follower of Jesus, there is comfort to be had. As we cry out to Him, we can experience comfort (yes, in the face of trials) that comes from fellowship with Him, knowing that He is fully in control and that He has promised to work out even the bad stuff for our ultimate good (making us more like Him - Romans 8:28-29).

So, is our personal Christian life an end in itself? Do we simply get from God only for our benefit? Hardly.

As God provides us with comfort in the face of trial, one of the many outcomes He desires is that we comfort others. He wants us to share with others how we have found Him to be faithful in our time of trial and then to assure others that He can do the same for them.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New Living Translation)

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

Will you be open to comforting someone today?

So many folks would rather talk about themselves than listen to others. In doing so, they rob themselves of the opportunity to hear others' stories and provide the needed words of comfort. Today, desire to listen, empathize, and as God leads you provide the comforting words that are needed.