How Can a Good God Let Bad Things Happen?

by Mark A. Tabb

Book Overview

Should we expect only good things from the hand of God? It's a timeless question: If God is good, why do bad things happen? We pray for blessing, but we feel cursed. Following Christ seems to make... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1600062687
• ISBN13: 9781600062681
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Good Question!

Every day horrible things happen around the world. Many times we stop to wonder why because our Lord is a good God. How can a good God let bad things happen? And how can these things happen to believers? Mark Tabb attempts to address these questions and more. Can we trust God? Is there a purpose to the suffering? How are we supposed to go on after trials? I was a bit reluctant to read this book for a couple of reasons. The first being that I was in the middle of some trials and didn't want to read a bunch of cliches. The second was that there are many books out there dealing with the topic, some of which are quite good. Obviously, I read it anyways. By the time I finished the book my trials had subsided and I came to the conclusion that such books are to be read during times of relative peace and calm in our lives so that we can store the Word in our hearts. In times of need, they will come back to us. How does this book rank with the others I have read? I found it to be different, so I can't rank it with others. This book is for the believer. It is for someone who has acknowledge God in his or her life. Many other books on this subject are addressed for the doubters. My one negative thought regarding this title is that it does seem to get a bit repetitive at times. I found myself skimming parts. Overall, I would recommend it if you wonder about accepting both the good and the bad from God.

A book for all the hurting Christians

How Can A Good Got Let Bad Things Happen? is written for parents who have lost their child. It is written for the couple struggling with infertility. It's for the man who has lost his job. It is for the widow. It is for the man whose wife has left him. It is for all hurting, confused, and angry Christians. Mark Tabb has tackled the difficult topic of why God allows His people to suffer. Looking at the life of Job, Mark Tabb walks the reader through questions like: * How could God let this happen? * Can I ever trust God again? * Could God have some purpose behind all I've been through? * Why does the road have to be difficult? * How can my life go on from here? Mark Tabb deals with these questions honestly and with great respect for God. Mark is open about his own anger and confusion in the face of suffering, but he draws the reader right back to trust in God. He reminds us of God's promises to be with us always, and the ultimate promise of eternal life. This is a book every pastor, every grief counselor, every leader in the church should read.

Good book on bad things

I had the chance to read and review a book written by Mark Tabb titled How Can a Good God Let Bad Things Happen? I thought this book was fitting for this time in my life and was glad that I requested this book from NavPress. Mr. Tabb uses the book of Job to help the reader understand that bad things, terrible circumstances in our lives aren't from God and we need to continue to praise Him even if we think we will never get through it. Through Mark Tabb's book I saw that what I see as trials in my life aren't as bad as they could be. I still have a house, two vehicles, a husband, my three children are alive and healthy, even if our house isn't big enough, our van is constantly breaking down, our house needs a lot of repairs - our circumstances could be much, much worse. Reading this book helped me understand God a little more. The evil in the world is the result of the first sin, and Satan is alive and well in this world. While I never doubt and I do my best to never blame God for the bad things in my life - I am not sure how I would react if my children were to die, we were to lose our house, etc. Could I continue giving God praise? I would like to think so. Would I want to hear empty words from friends and family? Definitely not. I heard the empty platitudes when we lost our first baby, "oh it's God's way of taking care of it now" and so on. This isn't what grieving and hurting people need to hear. Mark Tabb does a great job of getting this point across without belittling anyone or hurting anyone's feelings. He does it with grace and maturity and in the end, his book is well written and gives sound Scriptural basis for his findings. The only thing I could find wrong in the book, and it could just be personal preference, is that when Mr. Tabb refered to God or Christ as "him" it was a lower case 'h'. I was always told that it's a sign of respect to use a capital 'H' when refering to the Lord. Like I said it could just be a personal preference, but even with that pet peeve of mine the book was very enjoyable. God bless

"How Can A Good God Let Bad Things Happen" by Mark Tabb

[...] I received this book about twomonths ago to review. I love to read and this topic intrigued me. It's a question that I struggle with especially in relation to children. I know that many of my friends who have been through tragedies also ask "Why?". It's asked during those hard times when faith can be questioned and trust in God can be shaken. This book correlates with the book of Job in the Bible. He takes the many things that Job went through and correlates his questions of why? to those we may have now. The most interesting point I thought he brought up here is "why not" Why would we think that God only allowed good and not bad in a fallen world of sin. He takes those hard questions that many people do ask such as the holocaust,911,abuse of children and attempts to explain. He doesn't just use the "God has a purpose" explanation. He does talk about how tragedy and struggle refines you as a person. He also brings into discussion the fact that earth isn't meant to be heaven. As humans we are given a choice. Sometimes those choices aren't easy. We are being chiseled into stronger humans. I found his examples to be very relevant to my own struggles in life and my own questions that I've dealt with. This isn't a book that you can rush through. I took a couple of chapters at a time and absorbed the information. I would highly recommend this book for everyone who is going through a hard time and asking God "Why?"

How Can a Good God Let Bad Things Happen?

The author weaves the story of Job in the Old Testament together with questions about the great tragedies of human history and real stories of personal struggles. As we consider life and the world as it is, we begin to question why God would do this. We shake our fists to the sky, angry that God would allow us to suffer. We don't deserve this. Or do we? "This world we now live in is the end result. God did not speak into existence a world of drive-by shootings and random acts of violence. Human beings created this world for themselves." p. 31 The honesty in the writer's frustrations with suffering and death allows the reader to think clearly about God and His motives. Are we afraid of the real answers? Tabb helps readers face the truth in the balance of Scripture rather than the simple, trite statements of comfort that offer no comfort at all in the midst of pain. In the end the author focuses the reader's attention away from self and toward the reason for comfort and hope: the treasure of eternity with Jesus Christ. "The hope of heaven...the final chapter, that makes all the other chapters make sense." p 215