Bad Things and Good People

One of the most challenging questions of life is, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Jehoshaphat and Judah were faithfully honouring God and yet they faced a terrible invasion. While the answer to the question is not revealed here we get the answer to a more important question; how does God want good people to respond to bad things?

There are five key aspects to Jehoshaphat’s response:

1)He acknowledges God as King of Kings

2)He’s honest about his fear and requests

3)He waits and watches God

4)He believes in and trusts God’s character

5)He worships in the midst of his difficulty

We’ve seen kings turn to God before in the narrative, but nothing compares to this genuine appeal and demonstration of faith. As a result, God not only wipes out their enemies without them needing to do a single thing he turns their struggle into a blessing.

While God doesn’t overturn every hard situation we face in such a dramatic fashion, in moments like this we have a foretaste of how God will one day wipe away every hurt, every struggle, every fear and bless us more than we can ever imagine.

Thought Point

How do you respond to bad things? As you read Jehoshaphat’s prayer, how can you learn from it?

Prayer Point

Hand over your situation to God, spend time praising Him, even if you’re facing huge challenges. Invite His Spirit to encourage you in your worship.