August 9, 2026
It has been stated that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Regrettably, this statement is inaccurate. In life, many questions posed are indeed stupid, which subsequently result in stupid responses. Perhaps the only thing more undesirable than a stupid question is a question posed with arrogance.
For example, we often hear the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” On the surface, this question seems sincere. However, if we examine it, we shall soon realise that it is not so much a question as a prideful protest.
Human pride often resents life’s misfortunes, causing murmuring and grumbling when bad things happen, whether health issues, loss, hardship, or tragedy. We struggle to accept that “good” people can suffer undeservedly while wrongdoers seemingly evade punishment. Our pride feels offended, believing we do not deserve such treatment, echoing the question, “What did I do to deserve this?”
Our questions about why bad things happen to good people often stem from fear, which grows when we realise we lack control. News outlets quickly assign motives—climate change, guns, racism, and hate—to find scapegoats, because blaming something makes us feel in control. But facing real bad situations can reveal total helplessness, which threatens our pride and triggers fear.
This is exactly what the Apostle Peter confronted. In his 1st Letter, he tells you and me to be content under God’s strong hand when he says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Peter is telling you and me that we can live carefree before God because He is most careful with us. In other words, when we let our prideful old Adam have its way—like the world—we shall always be offended, ungrateful, and grumbling about life’s misfortunes because when our prideful sinful nature has its way, we not only act as if there is no God, but we also view ourselves as morally superior, deserving of all good things.
Furthermore, when we live like the world, with our inflated pride, we are easily given to fear when bad things come our way. After all, if we act like God, it is easy to become fearful when our prideful thrones are threatened. Bluntly stated, when we sit on top of our little kingdoms, we like to believe that we have all things under our control. However, when the smallest of struggles come our way, not only does our prideful arrogance get offended, but we quickly become fearful. We don’t want to fall from our prideful thrones to the bottom. We don’t want to have cracked crowns. We don’t want to be out of control and vulnerable.
Peter gently reminds us that embracing humility under God’s mighty power is truly important. This kind of humility doesn’t mean being shy or quiet; neither does it mean acting overly religious. Instead, it means recognising that we are not God ourselves—understanding that we are beautifully placed under God’s mighty hand of power. Truly, this humility is about knowing our place in the loving care of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.
This is why Christians differ from the world. The world does not see itself under God, but we do. Our Lord Jesus Christ rescued us from darkness to Light to make us His own. We do not belong to sin, death, or the devil; we belong to Jesus Christ. Living with pride as if there is no God is not who we are. We are not rulers defending our tiny kingdom from the world’s threats by our own strength. If we were, it would be natural to protest, “Why do bad things happen to me as a good king or queen?” or complain, “What did I do to deserve this?” But we are neither good nor powerful, so we need to remain under the mighty Christ.
We are under the almighty God, which makes a drastic difference. More specifically, because we are under King Jesus, two realities emerge in spite of the old Adam’s pride and fear.
First, let’s remember that because we are under God’s caring hand, whether life brings us joys or challenges, Jesus remains in control and showers us with goodness. His grace is always enough for every need, and His strength is at its strongest when we feel weak. Think about the Apostle Paul for a moment. When Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13), he’s not suggesting that Jesus grants him unlimited power to conquer the world. This isn’t just a catchy Christian sports slogan. Instead, Paul expresses that he is content to handle whatever comes his way, whether in times of need or of abundance. Like Paul, we can face all circumstances—good or bad—because we are protected under God’s mighty and loving hands. Whether we face difficulties or hardships, nothing changes for us as believers, for we are safely held in Christ’s strong, tender, and scarred hands. Christ is our source of strength, reassurance, and support through every season.
Second, because you and I belong under the mighty hand of God, not only does this allow us to bear the misfortunes and calamities in life, but it also leads us to faith—not fear. All of our foolish worries, all of our nightly unrest, all of our racing thoughts, belong to our prideful old Adam trying to manage fear and stay in control on the throne. Since Christ has snatched us unto Himself and because we are now under the almighty hand of God, we have the gracious invitation to cast every care upon Him. If there were not a God, or if we had a God who did not care for us, we would be stuck hauling around our worries, burdens, and need for control throughout all the days of our lives. However, because we are humbled under the Lord and because we have a caring God, all the cares and worries of this present life, everything that bothers us, Christians, in its entirety, can be cast upon our heavenly Father.
And so, in humility and gratitude, we do not ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” but instead ask, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Furthermore, we ask, “What did I ever do to deserve God’s love, favour, and redemption?” while knowing that suffering won’t last forever. Yes, by faith we know it won’t be long before this generous God makes everything right for us. Our Lord gets the last word; He has good eternal plans for us as we journey through this vale of tears.