Does God bring or allow bad things in our lives?

Isaiah 45:6b-7

“I am the Lord, and there is not other.

I create light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times.

I, the Lord, am the One who does these things.”

Lamentations 3:31-33, 37-39

“For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion, because of the greatness of His unfailing love.

For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission?

Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?

Then why should we, mere humans complain when we are punished for our sins?”

Jeremiah 32:42

“This is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all these calamities on them, so I will do all the good I have promised them.”

Amos 3:6

“When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed?

Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?”

Apparently, according to these verses, God does plan, bring and allow calamities and troubles to come our way. So why?

One reason is to punish sins, specifically Israel’s sins of rebellion and idolatry. However, today I believe He brings consequences and hard times so we will recognize our sins and He can draw us back to Him. Yet, Many times troubles are piled upon us when there are no unrepented sins in our lives. Again I ask, why?

“This is what the Lord says:

“I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the One who calls you by name.” Isaiah 45:2-3 NLT

If I never had a mountain before me, I would never be able to see my God level one.

If I was never imprisoned by gates of bronze and bars of iron, I would never see Him cut through them to free me.

If I was never in the darkness, I would never find hidden treasure and secret riches that are hidden there.

You see if I never had to climb a mountain, I would not have seen the glorious view. I would not have known how He put my feet in foot holds and my hands in hand holds. I would not have felt His arms carrying me or His strength bolstering and supporting me.

“I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will now there is no other God.” Is. 45:5-6

If there never was a battle, I would not have known how He prepared and equipped me. Or how He fought the battle for me and right along beside me.

I have done this, He says, so you may know that I am your God. So with my heart I would really know Him, and see His face and feel His love surround me.

Without terrible trouble in my life I would not have heard the Most High calling my name. And I would not have known that He is enough.

Like Job, I say, “I had only heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes.” Job 42:5