We’re diving into a big question today: why do bad things happen to really good people? It’s like a cosmic riddle wrapped in a mystery, and trust me, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs lately. I mean, one minute I’m feeling like a million bucks—finally out of debt—and the next, I’m hit with a lawsuit that makes me go, “Seriously? Why me?” But hang tight, because we're unraveling this together! We’ll explore how sometimes life throws curveballs because, well, the world’s a little broken, and sometimes it’s just life being life. So grab your favorite snack, kick back, and let’s chew on this juicy topic!

Value for Value

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Takeaways:

1. Sometimes life throws us a curveball, and we're left asking, why do bad things happen?
2. God is patient and gives us time to repent, even when we mess things up.
3. Suffering can actually help us grow stronger and be there for others in need.
4. The worst thing ever happened to the best person, but it led to our salvation!
5. Trusting God means believing He has a plan even when it feels like chaos.
6. We may not be as good as we think, but God loves us anyway, and that’s pretty awesome!

Bible Verses

Luke 18:19

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?”Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Romans 3: 10-12

As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good, not even one.”

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Romans 8:28

“In all things God works for the good of those who love him”

Genesis 50:20

You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”

Mathew 24:

(Jesus talking) .6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

Luke 23:27-31 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

1 Peter 21:

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your...

In this episode, I reflect on the importance of personal accountability and how easy it can be to point fingers at others rather than owning up to our actions. I start with the classic Einstein quote about insanity—doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results—and share stories from my own life where accountability (or lack thereof) played a big role, from customers blaming my company for their missed subscriptions to personal habits I’ve needed to change.

I talk about childhood lessons my dad taught me about fairness, and how comparison can steal our joy. I discuss how excuses like “nobody ever told me” or “that’s just how I am” keep us stuck, and I get real about my messy house, bad eating habits, and struggles with weight. I share about moments when I ignored obvious red flags in relationships and recount how ignoring good counsel can lead to costly failures—like filing bankruptcy in my 20s and bombing a tough college class because I didn’t pay attention.

I dive into Scripture, highlighting Galatians 6, Philippians 2, and Ezekiel 18, to remind myself (and listeners) that we reap what we sow, that change is possible, and that we are responsible for our own actions—not our parents, not anyone else.

There’s a story about my ex-wife and how firm consequences helped her kids grow into successful adults—I even witnessed her smash a video game as promised! I’m reminded that real change takes effort, sometimes painful choices, and a willingness to listen, learn, and act.

Finally, I encourage anyone feeling stuck in their current story—whether with their job, family, or faith—to “read the syllabus” (the Bible) and try something different. I share that this episode really speaks to my own need for self-discipline and accountability.

Thank you for listening! If this episode brought you value or made you reflect, please consider sharing it or supporting the show at feedingmyfaith.com/support. Until next time, God bless!

As I record this, it's the week of Thanksgiving, so I wanted to take some time to talk about why giving thanks is so important—not just spiritually (it's biblical!), but also physically and mentally. If you're feeling like there’s nothing to be thankful for, maybe you’re just not looking in the right places.

I dive into 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and talk about how giving thanks applies to all circumstances, not just when we feel like it. I discuss how our brains are naturally wired for negativity and how envy, comparison, pride, and resentment can get in the way of gratitude. It takes practice to be grateful!

I reflect on everyday things we overlook, like having the internet at our fingertips, a warm furnace, a roof over our heads, food choices, and even our freedom to worship. I share a nostalgic story about the excitement of getting a new album growing up, and how music has changed with the advent of streaming—it’s so easy to take these things for granted.

There's also a lesson from Luke 17 about the 10 men with leprosy and how only one returned to thank Jesus. It makes me wonder: Are we sometimes taking God for granted because He’s always there?

I also talk about the physical and mental health benefits of gratitude—lower blood pressure, better sleep, fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, and more satisfaction in life. To help you build a habit, I suggest trying a Five Minute Journal or jotting down three things you're grateful for each day.

Tim Tebow John 3:16 Story

I share a story involving Tim Tebow and some remarkable “coincidences” surrounding John 3:16, reminding us that God is always working, even if we don't see it. I also recount a personal experience of almost hitting a deer and realizing that sometimes, the small inconveniences (like filling up tires in the rain) might just be blessings in disguise.

The Benefits of Gratitude

Finally, I discuss how gratitude helped me cope with grief, and how it's hard to feel grateful and bitter at the same time. I encourage you to practice gratitude, especially if you're struggling during the holidays.

Mentioned: The 5 Minute Journal From Intelligent Change (affiliate)

If you find this episode helpful or know someone who could use a lift, point them to feedingmyfaith.com/95. I appreciate everyone who listens and sends feedback. If you're celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. If not, enjoy your Thursday!

Thank you for listening!

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