Bad luck Quote by Harold S. Kushner
“God does not cause our misfortunes. Some are caused by bad luck, some are caused by bad people, and some are simply an inevitable consequence of our being human and being mortal. living in a world of inflexible natural laws. The painful things that happen to us are not punishments for our misbehavior, nor are they in any way part of some grand design on God's part. Because the tragedy is not God's will, we need not feel hurt or betrayed by God when tragedy strikes. We can turn to Him for help in overcoming it, precisely because we can tell ourselves that God is as outraged by it as we are.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold S. Kushner, 1981
Suffering isn’t a divine punishment; it’s part of human mortality and natural law, and God shares our outrage.
In simple terms: Pain isn’t God’s punishment.
Key Takeaway
Seek comfort in shared humanity.
Themes
suffering
faith
humanity
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- personal crisis
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
theodicy
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you find meaning in suffering?
- What role does community play in coping?
A Different Perspective
Belief that God is indifferent can still cause despair.
![“Where [God] is, tragedy is only provisional and partial, and shipwreck and dissolution are not the absolutely final things.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/052/william-james-228_tragedy_where-god-is-tragedy-is-only-provisional_472961.jpg)
