Why, God?

When we endure hardships and trials, we always seem to want to ask God, "Why??" Sometimes we're mad. Sometimes we're just curious. Almost always there's at least some skepticism, as if it's not really possible it was for any good purpose. We ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" and comfort ourselves that we'll know "someday." The answer, however, isn't so obscure or nebulous. We don't have to guess or hope. We actually have good information from God.

"Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19). Suffering builds trust in God. "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word" (Psa 119:67). Suffering corrects. "To you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me" (Php 1:29-30). Suffering assists in identifying with Christ and our fellow believers. I love this one.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Cor 1:3-4)

That is, when we suffer afflictions, we become ... experts, so to speak. We gain a ministry, if you will. We can say to someone else going through what we did, "I know how it feels" and "This is what God did for me."

In the end, we can be absolutely sure of two things. Like Joseph told his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen 50:20). Whether the "evil" is human-caused or not and whether the event was intentional or accidental, we can be sure "God meant it for good." Second, we know what good. "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom 8:28-29). He's always in the process of conforming us to the image of His Son. That's why it's "good to those who love God" ... because it's good to us to be shaped into Christ's image. What is God doing? The very best for us ... even when we don't know what or why. Will you trust Him for it?