Q. Why does God always receive credit for the good things in life, but not considered responsible for any of the bad?

If this is really your experience, you must hang around with some nice people! Most everyone we know blames God when things go bad (the subject of the question above) and give themselves credit when things go well. We know that God is good and God gives good things. The Bible says so in many passages. For example:

• No one is good but One, that is, God.* (Mark 10:18b)

* Words in italic type have been added by the New King James Version for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew. This good feature is not found in most English translations (that will not tell you what was added during the translation process).

• Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:9-11)
• Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

God Even Takes the Crummy Stuff in Life and Uses That for Good

• And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Read the story of Joseph, which goes from Genesis chapter 37 to the end of Genesis (more or less) to see how that is possible.

We understand that when someone is going through tough times, it is hard to take what the Bible says at face value. Still, we know we can believe the Bible, because it has been proven to be true.