Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

I can't say I enjoyed Why Bad Things Happen to Good People by Brent L. Top as much as I did his last book. I think part of my problem was with the title. This book was formerly titled Strength to Endure, which I think is a much more appropriate title for this book. The answer to the title's question can pretty much be summed up in two words: That's life. The focus of the majority of the book seemed to be focused on the original title, giving tips and encouragement to faithfully endure trials and struggles.

The author begins by talking about the reasons why bad things happen. Perhaps most of the time it is because of agency, whether ours or that of another person. Other times it is the effects of a natural fallen world. And then, occasionally, it could also be the direct intervention of God. But after discussing the various reasons why bad things happen, Top sums it up by saying it doesn't really matter what brought it about; when we chose to come to earth, we chose to experience trials and adversity to prove us and help us grow. No matter what the cause, adversity is what we signed up for. Our focus should be on how to endure it well.

I did like a few of the author's analogies. He compares trials to a school bell. A school bell alerts students that it is time for class to begin, thereby giving a signal for the learning to start. However, the bell does not do any teaching itself. Our trials are like this. Adversity cues us that it is time to learn something. But just like lazy students at school, we can choose to ignore these lessons despite the trials that come upon us. We see the same thing in the Book of Mormon. Because of the wars, some Nephites were hardened, while others were softened.

The other example I liked was when the author was talking about the importance of pursuing faithful service in the Kingdom of God. When it is cold and fierce weather, the best thing to do is keep moving. Otherwise you will end up with frostbite. When we experience fierce trials in life, we might be persuaded to think we deserve a break and rest from church service. But doing this can lead to frostbite of the soul. Our testimonies may waver until we fall into complete inactivity. When the going gets tough, the tough really need to get going!

There were a lot of good things I gleaned from this book. I would change the title for sure. One chapter in the book dedicated to that topic is sufficient. Good people cannot be immune to adversity or else they will never become the great people they are destined to be.