Why do bad things happen to God’s good people?

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? In the Word … focusing on: how we can smile through suffering (1 Peter 1:1-12) Joseph – when life turns pear-shaped (Genesis 39) Joseph – from down and out to up and out (Genesis 40) a soft pillow for a tired and troubled heart (Romans 8:28)

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? How we can smile through suffering … 1 Peter 1:1-12

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? How we can smile through suffering … Peter and his calling Peter and his role Peter and his denial Peter and his leadership

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? How we can smile through suffering … we have a living hope (3) we have a permanent inheritance (4) we have divine protection (5) we have a developing faith (6-7) we have an unseen Saviour (8) we have a guaranteed deliverance (9)

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? How we can smile through suffering … they didn’t see God’s full plan (10-12) they didn’t have the Spirit as we do failure in the past does not nullify purpose in the future a broken heart is great preparation for healing fractured lives a penned letter is worth more than a thousand unexpressed thoughts

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? Joseph – when life turns pear-shaped … Genesis 39

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? When life turns pear-shaped … being in the centre of God’s will may take us into the eye of the storm the Lord was ‘with’ Joseph and ‘he prospered’ (2) God ‘blessed’ … ‘because of …’ (5) Joseph was a good-looking guy (6) the bombshell from Mrs P (7) Joseph ‘refused’ all her advances (8)

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? When life turns pear-shaped … he would break his master’s trust he would blacken his own character he would wreck his own fellowship with God (8-9) Mrs P grabs his coat … and Joseph is put in prison (12-20) God rules and overrules in all the circumstances of life

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? When life turns pear-shaped … an escape route (1 Corinthians 10:13) we must deal with it immediately we must deal with it realistically we must deal with it ruthlessly we must deal with it consistently we must deal with it confidently

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? When life turns pear-shaped … do not be weakened by your situation do not be deceived by the enemy do not be gentle with your emotions do not be confused with the outcome the dream lives on … ‘while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him … gave him success’ (21-23)

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? Joseph – from down and out to up and out … Genesis 40

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? From down and out to up and out … his relationship with God his relationship to circumstances his relationship to others he had to die to his family he had to die to his reputation he had to die to his friends

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? From down and out to up and out … 3 not so good responses to it all: we feel really sorry for ourselves we become bitter we determine to get our own back 3 cues to best deal with mistreatment: it’s always good to re-evaluate we should refuse to retaliate it’s an opportunity to refocus

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? A soft pillow for a tired and troubled heart … Romans 8:28

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people? A soft pillow for a tired heart … here’s a promise we need to claim and build our lives upon this is God’s bright idea, not ours God isn’t selective in what he uses for he takes ‘all things’ to fashion us God will not permit anything to enter our lives that will be to our detriment

Why do bad things happen to God’s good people?