Why are bad things happening?

New Living Translation (©2007) and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 1 Thess. 3:3 To answer my titled question......They are supposed to.  We as christians will go through trials and tribulations in this life.  There are many verses that tell us so.  Like the above verse is saying, don't get freaked out when really bad things are happening to you.  It's nothing new.  Christians have been persecuted from the beginning.  And like the verse says, since we know we will have troubles then we really shouldn't be surprised or scared when they happen.  I have just started realizing that God can only test you in trials. To say the last few weeks have been tough is an understatement,  but in the midst of all my turmoil and despair, God have revealed Himself and His love to me in a way I have never felt before.  It's almost like He is telling me, OK Steve, this is going to be the toughest trial yet, but it will also be the closest you have felt my presence in your life.  I could be angry right now, but I'm not.  It's kind of like God puts us in the valleys to teach us and show us his love, then when we are in despair we look up and realize while we were in despair he was actually carrying us to the mountaintop and we just didn't realize it. That's what happened to me.  As I was full of despair and self pitty, having the worst time of my life, I kept walking with God and didn't turn away.  As a result, I looked up in the middle of the worst time I have ever gone through and realized God had carried me through it, and now I was at the highest point I had ever been.  In 1 week, I went from complete and utter despair to complete and utter peace.  God is so good to us.  We just have to obey Him and ask for His presence in our lives. Keep my book in your prayers, it should be out in a few months.  Pray for my family and healing from our situation.  God Bless!