In general, people don’t like it when bad things happen to them. In fact, we will go to extreme lengths to try to avoid trouble or to mitigate it if it does happen. And in spite of all that we try to do to avoid having bad things happen to us, we just can’t avoid it. When it happens, we will deal with it as best we can and then go back to trying to avoid trouble. One thing that almost never occurs to us is that bad things happening to us might actually be good for us. In Job 5:17-18 we read, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.” We are supposed to be happy when God corrects us? Yes, we are. In Hebrews 12:5-11 the Hebrew writer explains the purpose for which God chastens, or corrects us. “‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” So, as our human fathers punished us to show that bad behavior has bad consequences and also to encourage good behavior on our part, God does the same thing; but, being God, He does so perfectly. It is important to note that God’s chastening us in no way removes our free will, we can choose to learn the lesson or we can choose not to. As verse 11 tells us, ‘...nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” In Romans 8:28 the apostle Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” For the Christian, no matter how bad things may be, good will come out of it. One of the most important results that can come about because of bad things happening to us, is that it can bring us closer to God. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” (Psalms 119:67).