14 Reasons Why Things Happen the Way They Do...and What to Do About It
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About this ebook
Our life on earth is filled with conflicts, adversity, and trouble. This truth is reflected in our music, literature, movies and books. Christians face the same trials as everyone else. They toil, sweat, bleed, and have headaches, cancer, and debt. Believers are not immune to evil, pain, and spiritual assault. All things are certainly not good.
Scriptures assure us in no uncertain terms that God has a purpose for the life of every single person. If that’s true, it means He also has a purpose for the trials and conflicts we endure. There are 14 reasons why things happen the way they do, but without understanding these reasons we waste the whole experience. We go through trials and afflictions that benefit us absolutely nothing. And our testimony to unbelievers reflect poorly on the Kingdom of God.
Nothing happens in your life that isn’t sifted through God’s permissive will first. Yet believers have a stubborn resistance to adversity, often missing God’s blessings in the process. This book will help you discover why things happen the way they do and how God would have you respond His way.
Darril Deaton
Darril Deaton has served as pastor, counselor and Bible teacher for over four decades. His personal journey through adversity and tribulation has led to a deeper, Biblical understanding of God's love and purpose for his life. As a pastor, the author has accompanied people through some of life's darkest trials. Through it all, God could be seen lovingly working all things for good..As a Chaplain to victims and a First Responder, Deaton has been an eyewitness to the tragedy, devastation, and destruction of terrorist attacks and natural disasters, from NYC after 9/11 to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He has witnessed the sort of cruelty one human could perpetrate against another, leaving families, communities, and individuals to make sense of it all.Yet through all that has happened, God was still loving, faithful, and ready to help put the pieces together. There always seemed to be a divine reason why things happened the way they did.The author holds a degree in history from Regents College and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Theological Seminary. He is also the author of the book, The Wonder of Worship.
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14 Reasons Why Things Happen the Way They Do...and What to Do About It - Darril Deaton
14 Reasons Why Things Happen the Way They Do
Copyright 2014 Darril Deaton
Published by Darril Deaton at Smashwords
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bibles®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB® and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved; Scripture marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved; Scripture marked (ICB) taken from the International Children's Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved; The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2011. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved; Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.; Scripture marked (NASB) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973, 1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Forward
Introduction
Part One: Where do bad things come from?
Sin and consequences of carnal living
Satan causes trouble because he hates people
God causes or allows adversity because he loves people
Part Two: 14 Reasons Why Things Happen
To bring us into conformity to the image of Jesus Christ
God will use conflict and trials to remind us of His love for us
One reason things happen the way they do is to bring us to the point of self examination
Things may happen that would exhaust our resources so we will come to depend on God
Things may happen the way they do to make us humble
God may permit things to happen the way they do so we will recognize our weaknesses
God may allow us to experience adversity so we can get a better knowledge of Him
Things happen the way they do so that we can be a vessel of comfort and encouragement to others
Things happen the way they do that we will come to hate evil
God uses adversity to stretch our faith
God will use our circumstances to sift our friendships
Sometimes we may experience adversity so that we will re-evaluate our priorities
God may allow things to happen the way they do so we will not become too attached to earth
We may experience adversity and suffering in order to be the instrument of deliverance for others
Part Three: Wrong and right response to adversity
Wrong Responses to Adversity
Don’t find someone else to blame
Don’t fight against the adversity rather than receive what God intended for us
Don’t get bitter toward those through whom adversity comes
Right Responses to Adversity
The first appropriate response to adversity would be to examine yourself
When adversity comes be sure to commit yourself to God
It’s okay to ask that the adversity be removed
In times of adversity, go to the Word of God
You can employ the adversity in ministry to others
Whatever you do, whatever happens, praise the Lord!
Part Four: Where do good things come from?
God is the one and only source of good things
Why does God give anything at all?
How should we respond to the good things God gives us?
Final Thoughts
About Darril Deaton
Connect with Darril Deaton
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Jesus Christ and to the family He has given me. To my wife, Dawn, and my children, Denise Smith and her husband Curtis, Darin and his wife Alexis. To my church family that first heard these principles preached and then encouraged me to write this book.
I also dedicate this book to the people who brought conflict, pain and adversity into my life. While you