One of the most common questions people ask is: "Why do bad things happen?"

The beginning of "bad things"
Bad things happen, very simply, because we live in a fallen world. Our world has been invaded by sin, and the result of sin is decay and death, both physical and spiritual. Adam and Eve were, in a sense, the "test case" for humanity. Could they live without going after the one thing in the Garden of Eden they were not supposed to have? They could not. They chose to disobey God and eat from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". God promised that the day they ate from it, they would die. Adam and Eve had lived a perfect life in paradise until that point. They had known no sickness, no death, no hurt. In a real sense they enjoyed "Heaven on Earth". Then after yielding to temptation, they both ate the forbidden fruit. At this moment, Hell literally broke loose on earth. It came in the form of sickness, death, loss, tragedy, etc. It may have seemed gradual to them, but it didn't take long for them to realize that life had changed forever. They began to witness death as it crept into every part of creation. Initially there was the death of an animal to provide clothes for the wayward pair. This must have been striking to Adam who had been given dominion over the animal kingdom. Then as they started to age, they watched the decay of the world around them as it slipped from a place of beauty to one of sorrow and loss. Animals died, plants died, people died. The struggle to keep things on an even course was obvious to them. So, in reality, "bad things" happen because we messed up.

The result of "bad things"
Ever since we left the Garden, humans have had to deal with these negative realities. Some people doubt there ever was a "Garden of Eden". But, when we ask why bad things happen, it is a clue that we expect things to be better. It reveals a belief that things aren't supposed to be messed up. If we look around us, we see that this cycle of pain and misery is a part of our normal existence and has been for our whole history. There has never been anyone who has lived free from tragedy. Yet, even though we know bad things are a part of our lives, we reject them as being unacceptable. We suspect there must be something bringing "badness" into our lives and we come to the conclusion that there must be something better. Quite often, when humans go through a tragedy, they will seek answers. Questions like "Why?" or "Why me?" are often lifted toward the heavens. Sometimes the questions are sincere. Sometimes they are accusatory. They are asked by people of faith and by people who deny any faith in the unseen. Whatever the reason, they are being asked. Again, the asking of these questions shows that deep down we know that things are not supposed to be "messed up". It is in these times that God is able to speak most clearly. In the middle of a tragedy, when we are without the drain of work or other often distracting activities, we are able to hear God answer. These moments cause us to look up and away from ourselves. This is a good thing. This gives us a chance to see and hear from our Creator, the only One who can deliver from or through the "bad things". He created a perfect world, but shows His love by working in a fallen world to bring us back into a right relationship with Him.