9/11 Daily in the Word

God is Still Good
Friday, September 11, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."

Psalm 37:1-6

Difficulties are the gravity that draw us close to God.,

Where were you eight years ago today-September 11, 2001? I can still remember that fateful morning. I'm sure that you, like me, turned on the news to see reports of attack, confusion, and speculation about what was going on. People were running, news anchors were stammering, and life as we knew it that Tuesday morning would live in history.

What was one of the most confusing, tragic, and overwhelming times in our nation's recent history soon turned into a time of unity and determination. Party lines were erased, barriers were torn down, and citizens united together as Americans. There was also an increase in church attendance during the months after 9/11. People wanted answers to the reason behind the attacks, and they wondered if God could help protect them from another attack. Maybe this was a sign from God?

Many people also became enraged at the terrorists. They expressed hatred and feelings of revenge to those who had caused such loss. We felt that we needed to find who did this and punish them for their actions. We wondered, "Why do bad things happen to innocent people?" No one can answer why bad things happen and why some evil people go unpunished, yet God gives us all a promise we can trust in today's verses.

Psalm 37 is perhaps one of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible. It addresses the question that people have been asking for years, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" As the psalmist says, "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." God says, "Don't worry about the bad things that happen, and don't wonder why those who do evil sometimes go unpunished. I am in control, and I will make things right."

Verse six says, "And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." God is still in control, and He is still good. In a day when people questions God's goodness, He shows that no matter what goes wrong, what evil goes unpunished, or what good goes unnoticed, He will right all wrongs one day.

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? Why did the great soulwinner of your church lose his job? Why did the kind mother of four in your Sunday school class die of cancer? Why did God put that faithful family through such a trial? No matter what happens, remember that God is still in control, and God is still good.

Too many times we view Christianity as a bubble God puts around us to shield us from harm, but God still allows trials in the lives of His children. He doesn't allow them to hurt His children, but to strengthen them. Difficulties are the gravity that draws Christians close to God.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Rather than looking at these situations as times of trial, view them as God's work in the lives of those He wants to use. If God has brought a trial into your life, thank Him for the opportunity to grow closer to Him, and allow God to use the trial to show others that He is still good to His children.