Scriptures: James 1:7, James 1:2-4, 1 John 4:8, James 1:17, Romans 8:38-39

Who’s to Blame for This Mess?

Every good and perfect gift is from above….James 1:17 (NIV) 

I am so excited for you to begin this study! I am tackling one of the most-asked questions people have about God: Why do bad things happen to good people? I think it’s a question most of us have asked at some point in our lives, and I look forward to sharing what the Bible has to say. 

No one is immune to difficulties and suffering. In an instant, a sudden tragedy can happen and leave us in a wave of confusion or threaten to shake our faith. When life feels unfair, we can become angry and look for someone or something to blame. 

However, in the midst of difficulties, it’s so important to remember that suffering does not come from God. He will use our difficulties to help us grow, mature, and become strong, but He is never the author of our problems (James 1:2-4). 

Years ago, when something happened or things didn’t go my way, I would say, “God, don’t you love me anymore?” But as I continued to study His Word in this area, the Lord opened my eyes to His incredible Love for each one of us. God’s Love never wavers. God is Love; it’s not something He does—it’s Who He is (1 John 4:8). 

James 1:17 says, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (NIV). God is Good, and everything good comes from Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that He has Good Plans for our lives…Plans to give us hope and a future. Our enemy, Satan, wants us to doubt that Good Plan. However, when bad things happen, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves of what God says. 

For example, as a young woman, I found out I had breast cancer. Fear immediately struck my heart. As we began to fight the cancer, which included surgery, the Lord instructed me to speak out various things from His Word, over and over again. One of those things is, “God, I know that You love me.” 

When life gets difficult, it can shake our faith and even make us doubt what we truly believe. But that’s when it’s more important than ever to believe what the Bible says in Romans 8:38-39: 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (NIV). 

Maybe you are facing difficulties right now. If so, I want to assure you that God loves you, He is fighting for you, and He will never leave or forsake you—never (Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 13:6). In fact, He not only promises to be with you through the storm, but He will also take the negative circumstances and work them out for your good as you trust Him (Romans 8:28). 

In the midst of our problems, and even when we don’t have answers, we can run to God for His help and comfort. One of the greatest things we can ever do during these times is to think and say, “God, I trust You, and I believe You’re going to do something great in the midst of what I’m going through.”

Prayer: “Father, You see every struggle and know every question I have. Thank You for being Good, even when my circumstances are not. In the midst of pain or uncertainty and when life’s not going my way, help me to hold on to You and trust that You are in control. Please help me to understand Your Love today in a greater way than ever before. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scriptures: John 16:33, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:22, 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, Luke 17:21, Romans 14:17, Ephesians 1:14, Romans 8:18, Revelation 21:4

It All Started in the Garden

“…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) 

I think there can be a misconception that once we begin a relationship with God, then all of our problems will be over. But that’s not true. Jesus Himself says, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). 

It truly all goes back to the Garden of Eden. You’re likely familiar with the story of Adam and Eve found in Genesis Chapters 2 and 3. In the Garden, they lived in Paradise. There was no sickness or pain, and all of their needs were met. However, Adam sinned when he ate a piece of fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—something the Lord had commanded them not to do. 

Romans 5:12 (KJV) says, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Through Adam’s action, sin entered the world and changed everything. It’s the very reason why we needed a Savior—Jesus—to take away our sins. When we begin a relationship with Jesus, we are cleansed on the inside and seen as 100% pure in God’s Eyes. We can look forward to spending Eternity in Heaven with the Lord when everything will once again be Perfect, as it was in the Garden of Eden. 

However, while we still live in this world, things won’t ever be Perfect. When sin entered through Adam, it brought with it sickness, death, and corruption. That’s why many people refer to it as a “fallen world.” The Bible says that even Nature itself groans as if in childbirth because it longs for the days when Jesus will return and everything will once again be Perfect (Romans 8:22). 

Right now, we have physical bodies that age and wear out. But in Heaven, we will have “incorruptible” bodies that never grow tired or get old (1 Corinthians 15:42-54). It will be glorious! Yes, we can and should pray and believe God for health and healing. I thank God for the times when He has supernaturally helped me to recover, kept me safe, or protected me from harm. But while we’re in this world, we will never be completely immune to difficulties or sickness. 

For example, a couple years ago I injured my back. Since then, I have undergone a couple surgeries and have spent a lot of time with doctors and a chiropractor to relieve the pain and recover. There have been times when I’ve had to call my husband Dave for help to simply get out of a chair! 

Someone may think, Joyce Meyer must not have very much faith if she can’t receive healing for her back. While faith and prayer are powerful (and I’ve seen God do mighty things), there are times when we will go through difficult situations. 

Let’s go back to John 16:33. Jesus says we will have some troubles. But He also says to cheer up because He has overcome the world! What does this mean? It means that we have the Kingdom of God living on the inside of us—all of His Peace and Joy are available to us at all times (Luke 17:21; Romans 14:17). 

The Bible also tells us that God has given each one of us His Holy Spirit as a down payment until the time comes when we go to Heaven (Ephesians 1:14). We literally have God and Heaven itself living inside of us! 

Finally, we can cheer up because we know the war has already been won. No matter how difficult this life gets—and I know it can get difficult—we have Eternity with God to look forward to. Romans 8:18 says, …the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (ESV). 

In this life, we will all go through some really difficult things. There will be times when we don’t understand and things seem unfair. But we can take courage because God is with us every step of the way. And a Day will come when there will be no more suffering or heartache, and God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).

Prayer: “Father, thank You that I can receive Your Peace in the difficult times…even when life doesn’t make sense. When things are hard, help me to press into You and draw strength from Your Word…and believe You can make something good even out of a messy situation. Please help me to have Your Eternal Perspective and remember the amazing things You have in store for my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:27, Ephesians 6:12, John 10:10, Isaiah 14:13-14, 1 John 4:4, John 8:44, Psalms 139, Romans 8:38, Jeremiah 29:11

The Invisible Enemy

…do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) 

I believe the toughest enemy to fight is the one we don’t know about. That’s why Ephesians 6:12 is such an important Scripture to understand. It says: 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places (AMPC). 

This verse tells us that our enemies aren’t necessarily our circumstances, other people, or even ourselves. It’s saying that behind all of the things that are happening on the surface, there is also a very real spiritual battle taking place. 

I was a Christian for years before I realized I had an enemy, Satan, who will do everything in his power to prevent us from walking in God’s Good Plan for our lives. The Bible says that his sole purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). 

Scripture teaches us that Satan (or Lucifer) was once an angel, but he was cast out of Heaven after he rebelled against the Lord. Isaiah 14:13-14 (NIV) says, “…For you [Lucifer] said in your heart, “I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will make myself like the Most High.”

As I mentioned, Satan will fight us and attempt to destroy the future God has for us. He uses things like strife and anger to try and devastate relationships and marriages. He also comes against us with fear and doubts to prevent us from enjoying our lives and stepping out in faith. 

Yes, the enemy has power, but the good news is God lives on the inside of us, and He is greater than the enemy (1 John 4:4). The best thing we can do to combat Satan is to draw close to God and become strong in Him. We do this by talking with Him and studying His Word (the Bible). We are in a spiritual battle, and God’s Word is a spiritualweapon. 

I think many people are like me. Before I knew about the enemy, I allowed him to influence my life without ever knowing it. Whether it was fear, insecurity, strife, or depression, I didn’t know I could take a stand against it. 

For instance, one major way he attacks is through deception. John 8:44 (NIV) teaches us that Satan “is a liar and the father of lies.” He attempts over and over to get us to believe things that aren’t true. Even though they are lies, he knows that if we believe they are true, then they become a reality for us and negatively affect us in so many ways. 

How does he do it? He comes against us by bombarding our minds with thoughts that lead to suspicion, doubt, fear, and theories that go against what God’s Word says. 

For years, I believed so many things that weren’t true, and it created a mess. For example, if I woke up with negative thoughts and feeling depressed, I thought, Well, I guess I’m depressed. Or I remember thinking things like: Nobody cares about me or loves me; My past is such a mess; I should just give up.

That’s why it is critical for us to know what God’s Word says—it’s our main line of defense against the lies of the enemy. I like to say that His Word is our “litmus test” for knowing what is true and false—a way to know the truth and expose the lies. 

The next time you notice yourself battling negative things, choose to replace them with truth from God’s Word. If the enemy tries to convince you that you’re insignificant, say: “I am a child of God and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me and has a great plan for my life!” (Psalm 139; Romans 8:38; Jeremiah 29:11.) 

I don’t believe we need to be overly focused on Satan. But knowing that he exists and understanding how he operates is an important part of living in freedom. And the more we study and get familiar with God’s Word, the better we’ll get at recognizing his tactics. 

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) says …do not give the devil a foothold. The enemy constantly wants to get his foot in the door, so to speak…to find a way into our lives. But as we stay close to God, He will help us to expose the lies of the enemy and stay one step ahead.

Prayer: “God, thank You for being greater than the enemy and anything he throws my way. I ask You to open my eyes to his deceptions and any areas of my life where he would try to get a foothold. Help me to love Your Word because it’s the Truth that sets me free and exposes the lies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:19, Romans 8:28, Psalms 37:6-8, Psalms 57:2-3

The Gift of Free Will

…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life….Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV) 

One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is free will. Throughout His Word, He continually teaches us the right things to do to have a great life, but ultimately, the choice is ours. 

In Deuteronomy 30:19, God says, …I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

This even includes our choice to love God and have a relationship with Him. He could make us love Him, but that’s not what He desires. God isn’t interested in having a bunch of robots who worship Him because they have to. He longs to have sons and daughters—children who choose to love Him because they want to. 

Free will is an awesome gift but also an incredible responsibility. Galatians 6:7 says we reap what we sow—decisions have consequences, for good or bad. The truth is, if we choose to, God will let us make bad choices; however, bad choices can also lead to bad results. 

For instance, if I choose to eat a bunch of things that aren’t healthy, eventually I won’t feel as good as I could. When that happens, it’s tempting to want to blame the devil or something else for my problem. But if I’m honest with myself, it’s the result of my own bad decisions. 

There was a time in my life when I was reaping the consequences of years of bad decisions. There may be things in your life right now that you wish you could do over, and we’ve all been there. The good news is that God is merciful, and He will help us with our messes—even when we are the ones who made them! 

The greatest way to overcome a series of bad decisions is to begin making good decisions. Little by little, as we make wise choices for our lives, we begin to reap the positive consequences. 

In addition, we are also affected by other people’s decisions… 

You may be familiar with my story. As a child, I was sexually abused by my father for years. It wasn’t the result of anything I had done, but I was suffering the results of his bad decisions. For years, I didn’t understand why God would allow that to happen to me…or why He wouldn’t have miraculously delivered me from the situation. 

The truth is, there will be times when we are hurt by other people’s choices. However, if we choose to trust God, He can work something good out of our pain. It’s difficult to even explain, but God has somehow taken those bad things that happened to me and used them for my good and for the good of many others through my teachings (Romans 8:28). 

Always remember: No one ever gets away with anything. If someone is doing wrong and hurting others, they are planting seeds for a bad harvest in their own lives. Truly, the greatest thing we can do is pray for our enemies, because in the process, it helps us to release our own bitterness and unforgiveness that can hold us back. 

While we live in this world, there will be times when we suffer from someone else’s poor decisions. But even then, God can and will help us in the midst of it. He can take even the bad things that happen and work them out for our good.

Prayer: “Father, I ask for Your Help, each and every day, to make wise choices that will produce good results in my life. I know I can’t go back and change past decisions, but I thank You for your Grace, Mercy, and Help right now, right where I am. I ask You to take every wrong thing that has happened—whether it was the result of my own decisions or someone else’s—and work it out for my good as only You can. Regardless of what others have done or how their decisions have affected me, I thank You for being my Vindicator (Psalm 37:6-8; 57:2-3). You see everything, and You are constantly working on my behalf to help me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scriptures: John 10:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20

What to Do When Life Happens

…I came that they may have and enjoy life….John 10:10 (AMPC) 

I’ve learned that no matter how much faith we have or how spiritually strong we become, we’ll never completely escape difficult times. And while we’ve discussed some of the reasons why bad things occur, sometimes “life happens” and we may never know why. 

Regardless of what has happened—whether it’s a major disappointment or simply a minor irritation—how we respond to it makes all of the difference. 

Have you noticed that when life throws you a curve, your thoughts and attitudes immediately start to sink and become negative and sad? But you can interrupt their downfall by choosing to have a good attitude and think positive thoughts based on God’s Word. Positive people are much happier than negative ones. 

Many years ago, I was extremely negative. I used to say that if I had two positive thoughts in a row, my mind would cramp. This is an exaggeration, of course, but it reflects the way I viewed myself. I believed, as many people do, that if I didn’t expect anything good to happen, I wouldn’t be disappointed when it didn’t. It won’t surprise you that I was often miserable…and I made others around me miserable. 

Jesus says in John 10:10: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) (AMPC). 

Here’s the truth: Everyone goes through difficulties; we all experience disappointments and unforeseen situations. But if we allow ourselves to wallow in the pain too long, it steals the enjoyment of life that God wants us to have. 

I want to share a few lessons I’ve learned about maintaining a good attitude when life isn’t going my way: 

·Maintain the right attitude and focus on positive things from God’s Word. 

·Realize the way you feel at the moment won’t last forever. (I remind myself that “This, too, shall pass.”) 

·Stay focused on God’s Goodness and thank Him for the good things in your life. 

·Pray and seek God’s Presence at all times. Stay close to Him. He will comfort you and guide you. 

·Try to keep your situation in perspective. The way you view your circumstances will determine how you think and feel about them. 

·Get your mind off yourself and focus on how you can help others. When you concentrate on making someone else’s life better, it releases joy! 

Sometimes we don’t think we can make it through a tough season, but God thinks we can. In fact, He promises us in His Word that He will never allow more to come on us than we can bear as we rely on Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

Remember, God is Good and He is with you, and it’s important to look beyond what is happening right now to the end result. The Bible says that He works all things for good for those who love Him and are “called according to His plan and purpose” and that what Satan means for harm, God intends for good (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20). 

This is really exciting when you think about it. When the enemy throws trouble at us, all he is really doing is putting us in a position to be blessed if we keep a good attitude during the difficulty! 

Life is going to get tough at times, and sometimes we may not even know why. But if we can remain positive and focus on God’s Promises, He will help us to get through it and come out stronger on the other side.

Prayer: “Father, You see everything I’m going through and nothing escapes Your notice. When life is difficult, help me to keep a proper perspective and focus more on what Your Word says than on what’s happening around me. Allow me to remain positive through it all and become an encouragement to others, knowing You will work something good out of every single thing that happens. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:12, Proverbs 3:5-8, Hebrews 4:3, Philippians 4:7

Trust Requires Unanswered Questions

…Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) 

I’m a thinker by nature. I like to figure things out, and I like to know why things happen and how they got that way. However, years ago, this was driving me crazy. When I had a problem or saw someone else going through a hardship, I applied my mind to the situation and attempted to come up with an answer. 

The truth is, there are things in life that we may never understand this side of Heaven. The Bible says, For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV). 

There will come a day (in Heaven) when we will know everything. But for now, these situations require faith and trust. I have learned from personal experience that putting my trust in God means there will be some unanswered questions. That was a hard lesson for me because I naturally want to understand everything…to know what’s going on so I can feel like I’m in control. 

It’s just human nature to try and figure things out. When we’re in the middle of a situation, we usually want to know “Why, God, why?” or “When, God, when?” We want to know now how everything is going to work out. 

The truth is, things are going to happen that we simply don’t understand. And that’s okay—God doesn’t expect us to have everything figured out. We can trust that He knows and will take care of everything. He wants us to look to Him and say, “God, I have no idea why this happened or what I’m going to do, but I am trusting You.”

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV) says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight…

There are tremendous benefits that come with trusting God. When we really trust Him and lean on Him, we enter His Rest (Hebrews 4:3). It’s a special kind of Rest that you can have even in the middle of difficult circumstances. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to have all the answers, but you are trusting God to take care of you. 

But when we fully lean on God and believe that He loves us and is in control, it brings us His Peace. 

Today, I feel like a completely different person than I used to be. I’m not perfect by any means, but I have stopped trying to figure everything out when “life happens.” If God wants to show me something, He will. But my job is to trust Him…to say, “God, I don’t understand this, but I know You love me. I trust You, Lord.” 

I know life isn’t easy. Sometimes there are tragic things that happen and we want to know why. But even in these times, God can give us His Peace that surpasses all understanding as we place our trust in Him (Philippians 4:7). 

I want to encourage you to trust God completely in every area of your life. Remember that He is always on your side and He is fighting for you as you go through the challenges in your life. He loves you, and you can trust that He has your best interest at heart.

Prayer: “Lord, I lift up to You all my doubts and questions—You know what they are. Help me to fully put my trust in You. Fill my heart with a Peace that will allow me to move forward, knowing You are in control. Let me lean on You and not on my own insight. I know I can trust You with my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scriptures: Isaiah 61:7-8, Matthew 5:4

Let God Turn Things Around

…Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a two-fold recompense…. Isaiah 61:7-8 (AMPC)

I’m so glad you have chosen to participate in this Study! When we go through difficult things or have tough questions, that’s when it’s more important than ever to run to God’s Word for answers and comfort. 

I want to finish with an encouraging message. When we experience a tragedy or suffer from a situation that doesn’t seem fair, God wants us to know that He’s a God of Justice and He can make wrong things right. Only He can comfort us, take the difficult things we’ve been through, and work them out for our good. 

As I mentioned earlier in this Study, I was sexually abused and extremely mistreated by my father. When I turned 18, I was finally able to get away, so I left home the first chance I got. Soon after, I married the first man who came along because I was convinced no man would ever want me. 

But this only led to more pain. We eventually divorced after I discovered he was cheating on me with other women and was even involved in criminal activities like petty theft. So, for the first 23 years of my life, I endured a lot of painful experiences that left me bitter, resentful, and constantly blaming other people. 

You see, when we’re hurt or mistreated, we can develop a chip on our shoulder and have an attitude that says, Someone owes me. I sure did. For years, I tried to “collect” from people who had no way of paying me back. Because a man (my father) hurt me, I found myself trying to make other men pay. 

Even when I finally married Dave, my amazing husband of now over 55 years, I took this attitude into our marriage and was unknowingly trying to get him to pay me back for what someone else did to me. However, as I began to read and study God’s Word, I discovered that God wants to be our Vindicator, and He can restore things others have stolen from us. 

Isaiah 61:7-8 (AMPC) says, Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a two-fold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the Lord love justice…

God helped me to understand that no person can ever pay me back for what I went through, but He can redeem a situation as we trust Him. When I finally began trusting God to be my Vindicator—when I got my eyes off of everyone else and focused on Him—it was truly amazing what He began to do in my life. Over the years, the Lord has continually given me unique opportunities and placed me in positions of influence. He has blessed me with His Joy and surrounded me with people who love me. God has truly given me double for my trouble! 

If someone mistreats you, refuse to stay mad at them and trust God to bring justice into your life. If a tragedy has occurred that makes no sense, don’t allow yourself to fall into bitterness or self-pity.Self-pity does not comfort us; it makes us increasingly miserable. Self-pity is rooted in fear—we fear we will never get back what we have lost or forever feel the pain we currently feel. Instead, when we are hurting, God wants us to run to Him for comfort. 

Matthew 5:4 teaches us that the comfort of God is so wonderful that anything that causes us to mourn opens the door for the amazing blessing of comfort. If we believe that God’s Grace and Sovereignty are greater than any loss or disappointment, we can experience Joy even in the midst of sorrow. 

I’ve known people who have endured tremendous tragedy yet remained peaceful, loving, and kind. Others have asked them, “How can you possibly go through what you have gone through and have such a great attitude?” One woman I know lost four of her children in a drowning accident, yet she was not angry or bitter, and she never lost her faith in God. She actually leaned into God even harder. God’s Grace and Comfort were poured out on her, and it was evident that the Comfort she felt was supernatural. 

So, whatever’s going on in your life today—whatever you’ve endured and whatever doesn’t seem fair—I want you to know that you’re not invisible to God. He sees you, He knows exactly how much you can take, and He will help you through it all. 

Remember, God is the only One Who can bring good out of what you’ve gone through. He is the God of Justice, and He can take your wrong thing and make it right.

Prayer: “Lord, thank You for your Unending Love for me. I pray that Your Word will be planted deep in my heart. Regardless of what I’ve been through, I believe You can make it up to me—You can take the wrong things and work them out for my good. I thank You for the wonderful things You are doing in my life, and I choose to believe that You are greater than any setbacks, questions, disappointments, or anything else that comes against me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”