Earlier today I was messaging a friend who is going through some rough times right now. One of the things she said was “I don’t understand why God lets bad things happen.” And I get where she’s coming from. Why would a God who loves us so much let horrible things happen in our lives?
I have personally asked this question before, along with many others: Why is this happening to ME? I’m the good girl! I obey God’s word! I go to church and I’m involved in ministry and I try my best to live a Christian life and develop my relationship with God. So why should bad things happen to ME?
No one is exempt from rough periods of life. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian or not--that doesn’t keep the hard times away from you.
James 1:2-3 (NLT) says, “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
Consider troubles an opportunity for joy? Man, does that sound like a contradiction. To be happy about trouble. But if we don’t go through hard times, we can’t grow. You probably know the cliches. “You can’t have a testimony without a test.” “You can’t have a message without a mess.” And those statements are, indeed, true. If everything were always rainbows and sunshine, we wouldn’t have a reason to learn, grow, and trust.
It’s been through the worst times in my life, through the struggles and the doubts, that I have seen God in the biggest way. Looking back, I can see His hand on me in the dark times, even if I wondered if He was there at the time.
Times of trouble tend to be the times we doubt God. We wonder if He really loves me. If He’s really there for me. If He really exists. So how do we conquer the doubt?
A few weeks ago, my pastor said, “If you don’t understand why you’re doing it, walk in obedience until you do.” Sometimes I don’t understand WHY God asks me to do the things He asks me to do. But I’ve learned to do those things anyways. Every time I have obeyed despite not understanding, God has brought me to understanding. It doesn’t happen overnight--sometimes it takes years. But He has been faithful through every storm.
Another quote I heard a few weeks ago from a friend’s pastor: God is not affected by your storm. You may not be able to get to Him through the storm, but He can walk on the water and come to you.
So I encourage you, when life gets tough and the waters are rough, keep trusting in God. Obey his commands and His Word, even if it doesn’t make any sense. He will be with you every step of the way.
Application:
Going through a rough time? I encourage you to find an uplifting verse that speaks to you. (I’m including some below to get you started!) Write this verse on a piece of paper. In a note on your phone. On the palm of your hand. On your bathroom mirror. Put it on sticky notes all around your house and in your car. Memorize it. The Bible is composed of God’s own words. Allow His words to permeate your brain, and know that God IS there and He is speaking to YOU.
Psalm 91:2
Psalm 119:169
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 29:11
Psalm 71:20-21
Isaiah 26:3-4
Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT)
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