How does Judaism explain why there are bad things that happen in my life?

Question

If I strive to keep all the mitzvot, why doesn't G-d make my life better? Why do there have to be setbacks and problems?

Answer 1

Perspective
When I was 6 years old, my father brought me an inexpensive balsa wood glider. This was the greatest gift I had ever gotten, a treasure! I was so excited. The next day I took it outside to fly for the first time. I was thrilled. Outside our row home was a large grass area. In the middle of that area a manhole cover stuck up a foot from the ground. That day a group of older boys were standing around the manhole. I launched my new plane on its maiden flight. It arced beautifully in a wide circular path and came to rest squarely in the middle of the manhole cover just as one of the teenagers was sitting down. A few seconds earlier or later and all would have been fine. Instead, the exact second when he was sitting down it landed under him and was ruined. The loss that I felt was terrible. It’s first flight and five seconds later my greatest treasure was gone.

The purpose of creation required that G-d separate for Himself the Jewish people and give them the Torah. All the events of history and writings in the Torah are for this one purpose. In the same way, each individual soul has a purpose for being here. The primary goal is to keep the entire Law. In addition, within a lifetime each soul has a focused mission that it needs to achieve to eventually fulfill the whole.1

Every event in one’s life, every person one comes in contact with has a reason. G-d is continuously creating the world and He puts those events in place.2 All these have a hand in shaping the person so that the soul has the opportunity to fulfill its focused mission.

Life is not a series of random events. G-d is fully in charge. Even the bad things

that happen. There is a mission. He sets the circumstances and sets the storyline so that the soul has the chance, within the story line, to achieve that mission. For example, one soul may be raised within an anti-Jewish environment and its mission is to choose Judaism, against all odds. Another is given the opportunity to show compassion to a person he was raised to hate.

A few years ago I walked into a building in an unfamiliar section of a nearby town. I was grabbed by four strangers and tied up so that I could not resist. One of the men took a knife stabbed me. He cut a slice of flesh out of my hand that caused a loss of blood and required stitches. It is a terrible story. But, it was a doctors office and he was removing a cyst from my hand From that perspective it was actually a good story.

One’s circumstances can seem good or bad. It doesn’t matter. Those are the circumstances created for that soul’s chance to achieve its purpose. What was the purpose of my plane being crushed? It had the whole field to land in. Why land right under his tush at that split second? Perhaps G-d wanted me to feel that small loss so that I would develop a sensitivity to the loss of other’s or a sensitivity to listening to Him. It doesn’t mean I am greatly sensitive but maybe without that little experience perhaps I would be quite insensitive.

People tend to look at this life and as if that this is all there is. This life is just the current mission. As I’m writing this, my son is struggling with high school math and physics. I am trying to help him understand that this is not the end of the world, it is just a semester. This year happens to have subjects that are not his strong area. So even though it is really difficult now it is just a small part of time, not his whole life.

So, it is with all hard times in this life. The bad times are not the book they are just a chapter.

1. Lessons in Tanya, Ch 1.

2. The Way of G-d (Derech HaShem) 4:9:1

Answer 2

If you really are all that good a Jew then you will be rewarded in the World to Come. If you really are all that good a Jew then you wouldn't be complaining and you would be happy with what you have and with what G-d has given you.

Nachman Ish Gamzu, named after his saying, translated to English, "This, too, is for the best". No matter what happened to him, no matter how bad, he always said this every single time something bad happened because he believed that G-d does everything for the best, and he was right.

The link to his story is in the sources area, which I think you will enjoy. There's another story about a similar man, but who had a slightly different saying which I can't exactly remember, but you get the point right?

There is a famous Jewish saying or Pitgom, or whatever that goes, "Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has". In Judaism, one is considered wealthier than one with lots of currency if he is simply happy with his share that he got from G-d in this world, and uses it for the best.

It won't help you to feel down, but rather would make everything worse. It would, however, help you a LOT to think on the bright side always and be happy with what you have and not complain.

Answer 3

http://www.torah.org/learning/issues/badgood.html

From the article:

" This origin of this question is built on a number of assumptions. 1) We are ENTITLED to have good things happen to us. 2) Everything that happens to us is either a reward or a punishment for something that we did. So if we behaved well, we deserve to be paid back in kind with an easy life.

Judaism has a different perspective which does not accept these asuumptions. We are in this world to confront challenge, to CHOOSE to do good deeds. Every situation in which we are placed is a test, and it is our responsibility to respond with ethical behaviour and service of G-d. This is the purpose of our temporary life on earth, and the level of our success determines our place in an eternal reality.

The real question then becomes: Why do bad things happen to good people - as well as good things?

If G-d gives us good health, social prestige, or lots of money, it isn't necessarily because we have been "good boys and girls." He is giving us resources with which to serve Him, and it is our responsibility to use those resources for that purpose: To imitate G-d by giving to and helping others; working to bring the recogniniton of G-d in to the world; improving the world in some way. When we are in a situation of poor health, poverty or some other difficult situation, it is not neccearily a punishment. We are being challenged by G-d to remain faithful to Him, to commuincate to the world our conviction of His existence, and to contiue serving Him in every situation. "

Peace

Answer 4

Scott, I'm going to suggest that you read a book entitled "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Harold S. Kushner. It was very helpful to me at a low point in my life. I wish you well!

Answer 5

Shalom, These are tests to make you stronger. I lost a baby boy to Tay Sachs disease years ago and thought my life was over BUT have had 4 children since, It will get better Keep the faith

Answer 6

There is a constant "happening". It is the mind that colors it with the judgment good or bad!

Answer 7

well, it could be possible...you haven't all the information that is required to make Him happy?...lol...bye...