You’re
going through life, and you think that everything is going along great. It seems that your life is all blue skies and
green lights. Things couldn’t get any better for you. Suddenly, something unexpected happens
and your world is turned upside down. You ask God to help you
out, but your bad situation doesn’t change. Could it be there’s a
purpose behind the pain you are currently experiencing?
Bad
things in life can be caused by Satan, the world we live in, or by ourselves.
“I think that the troubles we have in this
life are nothing when we think of the great things that we shall have.” (Romans 8:18, New Testament WE)
“The most beautiful people we
have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle,
known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” (Elisabeth
Kubler-Ross)
God allows pain in
the life of His children to get their attention (as with the prophet Jonah); to
display His healing power; or to grow their faith. In everything God wants the
“why” question to be answered with trust in His ultimate plan for their life.
“Place
your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him
completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give
Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road
that lies ahead.” (Proverbs
3:5-6, VOICE)
“So long as we believe in our heart of hearts that our capacity is
limited and we grow anxious and unhappy, we are lacking in faith. One who truly
trusts in God has no right to be anxious about anything.” (Paramahansa
Yogananda)
When everything
inside us needs an answer to the bad things that are happening to us, we should
praise God anyway in the midst of our trials; give our questions to God for His
answers; and look ahead to the future.
“These
little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all
our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last
forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds
on the things that cannot be seen.” (2
Corinthians 4:17-18, CEV)[ii]
“God is mighty. God is caring. God is worthy of praise. God [loves you]. God is able. God is in control. Nothing takes God by surprise. [Here
are] some sweet reminders to soak in
before falling asleep tonight.” (Lysa TerKeurst)
“God isn't about making good things
happen to you, or bad things happen to you. He's all about you making
choices--exercising the gift of free will. God wants you to have good things
and a good life, but He won't gift wrap them for you. You have to choose the
actions that lead you to that life.” (Jim
Butcher)
“Good things you have to make happen. Bad
things happen all by themselves.” (Oliver Gaspirtz)
[i] “All have done wrong and all are far
from being as good as God.” (Romans
3:23, New Testament WE)
[ii] Inspired by the sermon “Cries
of the Heart: Why Did This Happen?” (installment one) Sunday, June 18, 2017, Pastor Dave Jansen,
CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.
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