New Beginnings

Why Are The Bad Guys Always Winning?

Even the most upbeat person can watch the news or read a newspaper a few days in a row and get a little discouraged.  "Bad news" is all around us.  I don't know about you, but I sometimes question it.  Why?  Why did God let that happen?  Why are the bad guys always winning?  

As a child, I was taught never to question God and I took that to mean that I was a terrible sinner for asking that question.... why did God let that happen? 

Now, I have a different perspective.  God is a big boy.  He can handle it if I question Him.  I don't think that makes God angry at me.  It may amuse Him at times.  It may disappoint Him at times, but I don't think it makes Him angry or love me any less.  He UNDERSTANDS that I am looking at everything through my eyes--human eyes--mortal eyes. 

What God does expect of me is that regardless of whether He gives me insight to my question or not, I am to TRUST Him and have FAITH in Him. 

Habakkuk struggled with the same things I mention above.  There are only 3 chapters in the whole book and it is a good story, but I'll give the short version here.  In chapter 1, Habakkuk is complaining about all the "bad stuff" going on and he questions God....

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.  Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?  Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?  Habakkuk 1:13

Who among us has not had a similar thought at some point or another? !  Why do You let the "bad guys" kill the "good guys"?  WHy does bad stuff happen to good people?

God answered Habakkuk.  He basically said.... "the bad guys will get theirs one day! Judgement Day is coming" but for now.......

....the righteous will live by faith.  Habakkuk 2:4.  The Lord is saying, just trust Me and keep on keeping on. 

....But the Lord is in his Holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.  Habakkuk 2:20.  God is STILL in control!   

And Habakkuk did what we all must do.  He determined that he would choose to trust God and rejoice in Him--despite the circumstances.

...Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, through the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feel like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights!  Habakkuk 3:17-19

Life is going to happen.  Bad stuff is going to happen.  The world is a cruel place and our existence here isn't easy.  In my opinion, that just stinks!  As I heard a pastor say once, "I didn't vote for all of that!".   For me personally, it is hard to handle at times.  It gets depressing.  It gets scary--what next?  What about my family?  What about my friends?  When is the next bad thing coming?  What about terroists?  What about illness?  The list could go on and on.

God never told Habakkuk that no more bad stuff would happen.   He just told him to live by faith.  Sounds simple.  Yet, it isn't easy most of the time, but that is what makes it faith!  Faith is often believing when it doesn't make sense to believe; hoping when there appears to be no hope; seeing when the answer is invisible; trusting when we feel disappointed and loving God when we don't feel His presence or His love.

It brings me some comfort to know that even a Prophet--a chosen Man of God-- didn't like or understand the "bad stuff" going on around him.  He, a prophet, questioned God and said... Hey, where are you?  Why don't you come down here and take care of all of this?  Why are you just ignoring us?  The good guys are getting hurt down here!

And God gave Habakkuk the same answer He gives us today.  Have Faith.  Trust me.  I will make it all okay in the end.  That day is coming, don't you worry.  But in the meantime, I'll be your strength.  

He doesn't stop there.  Jesus came.  Jesus conquered!  Jesus came to give us JOY regardless of what is going on around us.

These things I have spoken to you, that My JOY may remain in you and that your joy may be full!  John 15:11. 

Wow!  Jesus doesn't just want us to be joyful.  He says that we will have HIS JOY.  Jesus, that overcame death on the cross--the Almighty, All-KNowing, All-Loving Living Son of God gives us HIS JOY!  Is that cool or what?!   And it gets even better.  He doesn't just give us HIS JOY--- He said that it will remain in us and that our joy may be FULL!  To me that means, we just won't be able to fight it!  Joy will just bubble up in us like it is overflowing.  It will spill over onto others just like a "full" glass can easily spill when moved.  That is the kind of JOY that JEsus can give us.  That is the Joy that He wants us to have--no matter what is going on around us!   

Dear Heavenly Father,

Keep us strong in these bad times.  Keep our eyes focused on you... Our Rock Eternal.  Let us not get too discouraged or scared.  Help us to just grab hold of You and hang on!  And thank You for prophets that were human--just like me.   If you can use Habbakuk despite his doubts and complaining, surely you can use me too!   Open my heart and my mind to Your Perfect Will and use me as You see fit.

And Lord, let pure Joy spill from me every moment of every day! Anyone can be joyful when everything is perfect but only Your Children can by joyful when times are tough!  Thank you for the gift of your JOY.  Help us to receive it and release it to others just as You did. 

Amen.

Hey!

9:36 AM, Mar. 13, 2008 .. Posted by dixiefiddler

Hey Mrs. Brandi!

So sorry I haven't been here in awhile. But I have proof on my blog that I have been VERY busy! lol!

I love what you wrote about how God is a big boy! That was great! lol!

Have a blessed day,
Sarah