July 24th

JULY 24th

Do you find yourself asking why God allows hard times in your life? After all, if you are a Christ follower shouldn’t your life be peachy keen? Here is where hard truth comes in to play.

Sometimes hard things are the result of our own choices. Consequences can follow us for a while. Sometimes hard things are the result of other peoples’ choices. Sometimes hard things happen because we live in a broken, fallen world. Sometimes hard things happen because the enemy wants to pick on us because we are a threat to him so he is hoping to neutralize us. Whatever the reason for the storm, we can rest assured that God is not asleep on the job. He allows hard times for many reasons and NONE of those include to harm us. In the middle of hard times it is good to remind ourselves of that.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

We run into more difficulty handling hard times when we forget to “zoom out.” When we neglect to consider the bigger picture (God’s point of view) then we can get tangled up in the details of the storm or a pity party or a waterfall of emotions/discouragement. But when we take the time to consider the why, we can glean all that God has for us in the trial.

Here are some examples of why God allows trials in our lives.

First- sometimes God allows trials in our lives to protect us. What?? Yes, sometimes a trial that we are experiencing is actually protecting us from something much worse. I know that may be hard to grasp and often we never find out the danger that we escaped but we should always consider that may be the case because He promises He will not harm us.

Sometimes God allows trials in our lives to correct us, to refine us. Even when it is not our fault we still need refining (to be made more like Him.) He uses the pressure from the trial to refine us. This just means that He loves us. Remember He disciplines those that He loves. And He loves us too much to leave us the pitiful way that we are now.

Hebrews 12:5-7 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

Sometimes God allows trials in our life to connect us -with Him and with others. During trials we lean in closer to Him and grow spiritually to a new level. Too bad it is our habit not to lean in when things are going good. So we get more connected to Him when we are in a storm, but we also connect to others more. Not only in the middle of the storm but also later. For instance, you can comfort others who are suffering things that you have already experienced. I know of a family who ministers to those who have suffered miscarriages. God did not cause the miscarriages but God carried them through multiple miscarriages and now they can connect with others walking the same path. The same is true for any kind of trial or loss.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

So when you find yourself in a tough time, remember to zoom out and consider whether the trial might serve to protect, correct or connect you (I’m betting sometimes it is all three.) Then ask the Lord to give you His perspective and help you walk through with the trial with His grace, and by His power, gleaning everything that you can from it. Always remember, regardless of whether the storm was your fault or not, God never abandons you in the storm and you can still benefit from what He has for you in the circumstances.

Lord Jesus, you know I hate trials, storms, and hard times, but help me to remember to zoom out and consider that you are working on me, in me and through me. Help me to see how it can be used for my good and Your glory. Thank you for never abandoning me, even when it is all my fault. Thank you for your perfect love and perfect plan.