INTRODUCTION

     Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good men? Or why good men suffer? Have you equally questioned your own life experiences, or thought that life isn’t fair? You are not alone in your quest for answers to the above.

For thousands of years the question of why good men suffer or why bad things happen to good people has perplexed the minds of mankind. Many have asked and wondered why they have to face some of the things they have faced, while on the other hand, it seems as if men in the extreme and opposite side of life thrive in the world.     It was this same frustration which provoked Job to curse the day he was born.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, there is a man child conceived.

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Job 3:3-11

Some unlike Job have gone to extremes of hating God, while others have concluded that there is no reason for one to uphold good values if after all life won’t treat one fairly. There are even those who have committed suicide as a result of the bitter experiences of their life. Paul, one of the early pioneers of the Christian faith had his own share of experiences as recorded in scripture.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 2 Cor 11:22-26

     As for Paul, he sought to change things through prayers as some have tried but he was promised grace to bear his challenges and not necessarily absolute deliverance from trouble.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor 12:7-9

     I know many thinkers, prophets, social scientists, educators and pastors, etc. have tried in their several capacities to explain and expantiate on some reasons why good men suffer. I appreciate all those efforts including the efforts of every human who has taken upon his or herself the pains and responsibility to provide to humanity the answer to such complex questions of ‘why good men suffer’. This work is the first edition of my own contribution intended to demystify the mystery behind why good men suffer, or why bad things happen to good people. Read and be inspired.