Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen

Chris Morphew

Life is hard. Even the youngest of children understand this truth. What is not so obvious is the answer to why life is so difficult. In this book, Chris Morphew explores the question of why God allows evil at an age-appropriate level.

Each chapter is titled with a question about suffering. We recommend that you read through this book with your child, stopping after each chapter to discuss the question posed in the chapter title. After you have finished reading through the entire book, you can discuss the following questions.

Question 1 - What answer does the Bible provide for why bad things happen?

Discussion Guide - Read Genesis 3 and discuss how that chapter makes clear that our first parents, Adam and Eve, rebelled against God. Now, all of their children inherit that sin nature and choose to sin every day.

Question 2 - One clear promise in the Bible is that God will be with us as we suffer. How does this promise bring comfort when bad things happen?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how knowing GOdis with us when we suffer provides the comfort of knowing we are not alone. Read Psalm 34:18 and Romans 8:28. Then discuss how God has promised to be especially close to the brokenhearted and to use all bad things for the ultimate good of His children.

Question 3 - Chapter 6 compare Jesus’ miracles to a movie trailer. How are Jesus’ miracles similar to a movie trailer?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how, just as a movie trailer is a preview for the actual movie. Jesus’ miracles in the gospels, as well as those He sometimes continues to perform, are merely a preview of when He will come back and make everything right.

Bonus Question - If your child has gone through Foundation Studying the Bible Curriculum, ask, “Where on the Bible timeline do we God’s plan for getting rid of sin and death for good?”

Discussion Guide - Put together the Bible timeline. Then, walk through the clues God provided throughout that timeline of His plan for our redemption. (See Unit 1, Lesson 9 for the exact Scripture references for these clues.)

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