Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

This past week during the high school service at church that I volunteer at, Pastor Chris King asked a very powerful question. Why do bad things happen to good people? His answer was simple, why not. God smiles on the just and the unjust alike. I was reading this article about Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Flower Mound. I highly recommend this as a must read article. Just go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/2010-02-01-pastor31_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip. We all come at a crossroad in our life and we ask God, "Why me?" Everything in life is a test of our faith. I know what it is like to lose someone very dear to you. Sure, I was angry. But, why blame God? He has a plan set for all of us, and no this does not mean our lives are predetermined; just that He has plans for us as long as our free will does not step in the way. God does have a plan for each and every one of us. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And it always ends well for every one of us that surrender our lives to Him. But note: it ends well. For many of us the story along the way will have many ups and downs. Jeremiah 29:11 was part of a prophetic word from God that Israel’s story was going to end well. If we are going to apply this scripture to our own lives that is what we must take away. That our story will end well. God has not promised us that all our time on earth will be safe, prosperous, happy and healthy. For some of us it won’t. The journey might be difficult at times but we will never encounter anything beyond what we can overcome in God’s strength. When bad things happen, show the world your unrelentless faith. It is the END we are to be striving for, not what we have here on Earth. Our lives on Earth are short lived, but a life in Heaven is for an eternity......Father, my prayer is that we are able to find the good behind the bad in every situation, or that we can at least make some good come from those situations. I pray that we pass the tests of faith you have set before us so that we may be a light to those who need an example to follow. In Jesus name I pray....Amen!