First, we must establish what is good and what is bad. The measure of good is the righteousness of God. With this as the base line for good, then we must assume that not one of us is really good. While some are ”better than others,” not one of us reaches the good and righteousness level of God. Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Now that this is established, like it or not, we are the product of a fallen world. The one constant factor is the human “free will.” That being said, we typically find God in one of two traditional ways, Truth or Pain.
In “Truth,” God’s complete Love and Mercy are often demonstrated in the tragedy of life events. When we lose a Christian friend or family member in their prime of life, whether they are young or older, as Christians we are given an assurance that helps us deal with bad things happening to good people. John 14: 2-3 says: “In my Father’s house, there are many mansions: if it weren’t not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
While “Pain,” is unpleasant, it motivates us to look outside of ourselves for the understanding of how and why things are the way they are. We learn and grow spiritually more in the valley of pain than we do in mountain top experiences…where our external circumstances appear to be going well.
James encourages us with the following Scripture James1:2-3: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”