UNPACK This...Finding Purpose in Our Sufferingਨਮੂਨਾ

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Great Teams?

When the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019, it was impossible not to notice that they were facing a team devastated by injuries.

The Golden State Warriors suffered injuries to Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Kevon Looney in that NBA Finals series, and DeMarcus Cousins still wasn't 100%.

Interestingly, after years of receiving the good breaks, building a dynasty, and doing all the right things to contend for a championship each season, bad things seemed to happen to them all at once.

For most of us, life consists of seasons of wins and disappointments. Of course, we like the times when life is good, and we win games by 20 without any injuries.

We're doing the right things, making good decisions, and pursuing Jesus instead of a sinful life, and we begin to expect everything to keep going our way.

Then, all of a sudden, everything around us starts to collapse: health concerns, job issues, family dynamics, and overall loss. We begin to ask, why are these terrible things happening to me?

But instead of asking that, we should be mindful of how we respond and remember how God has taken care of us in the past.

We can trust our loving and all-powerful God to strengthen us through the bad times with our heads held high.

The book of Job is about Job's suffering while remaining in humble submission to God. Even though Job was a great and righteous man, bad things still happened.

In Job 1:21-22, he provides the following perspective that we can rest in today:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Throughout all this, Job did not sin or blame God for anything."

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it's hard to understand when bad things happen. However, I know this life is temporary, and suffering has a purpose. Help me trust and obey, regardless of my tough times. I know You are still with me, and You still love me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

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