Myth # 9, We should thank God for bad things that happen...
This myth is related to last months Mythbuster, "God makes bad things happen to teach us lessons".

The Bible encourages us to be thankful in everything... that is slightly different than being thankful FOR everything.

There are three places that bad things originate from. The Bible says that the whole creation is subject to futility and sometimes bad things happen just because they happen. Jesus also taught us that the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Humans also manage to make pretty big messes all by themselves.

Because bad things come from these three sources, we should not thank God for them.

However, we can still thank God IN them. Jesus said that in this world we'd have tribulations, BUT not to fear because He has overcome this world. When we are in a difficult time, we can begin to thank God for who He is. We can thank God for solutions to come. When Jesus stood beside His dear friend Lazarus's tomb, the first thing He did was to thank God in advance for what was about to happen.

The Bible says there is no distress on this earth that can compare with the glory that is to come. Our entire lives can be an ongoing river of thankfulness. From this solid expression of faith, many wonders can happen.

But if we thank God FOR bad things, figuring that God has delivered them in judgement, then we don't understand the Cross. Then we bow our heads to bad things and there can be no solutions. This is not what Jesus modeled for us when He was here in the flesh. He healed, He delivered, He encouraged, He saved, He rescued, He stepped out in bold opposition to our trials and He eased human suffering in every way He could. This is our God and this is what He has set us here to do for others! We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Our job is to recognize where bad things come from and to ease human suffering in every way we can, just as Jesus did. This glorifies God's Kingdom.

If you are struggling, do not lose hope. Begin to thank God for who He is and to pray for solutions.