“Why?” is the most asked question of all. Life is full of miseries we can’t stand and mysteries we can’t understand. And we want aid and answers. However, since God doesn’t explain every experience we are confused. Beyond that, many are angry and bitter. They do not realize that what they need the most is often what they want the least. Unknown to them is the fact that what seems like a grievous burden just might be a great blessing. Blinded by the pain they lose sight of the fact that God has a plan– thus a purpose in their pain, a mission for their misery.
Although no one can answer all your “Why?” questions, here is something you need to remember— nothing ever “just happens”. There are no accidents with God. Everything is either caused or allowed by Him. He is involved in every detail of your life. And, if you trust Him, He will use your experience for any one, or all, of three things– your good, others gain, and God’s glory. Considering the first and second commandments described in Matthew 22: 37-40 “our good” should be the least of our concern. When “our good” becomes our main concern our priorities are wrong. If God is glorified and others gain as a result of our suffering that should be enough to keep us from complaining. Is it not good for us when our pain results in another persons gain and God’s glory? What more should we seek in life than that? So, looking at it in that manner, we can discover pleasure in our pain and rejoice always. Paul certainly did and so can we.
Our problem is that we get hung up on the fact that we can’t always see the fruit of our suffering and we assume it is for naught. That’s where faith comes in. To have peace in adversity we must accept what God says about it, regardless of how we feel or how things appear. God never fails to keep His promises — such as Romans 8:28. Do you believe that? If you don’t you have a problem worse than suffering. A lack of faith in God not only limits what He can do for you and through you, it is an insult to God and sin to you. The means for dealing with your misery is to believe what God says about it. If you are unwilling to do that no explanation would satisfy you. Work on increasing your faith and your fears will diminish. Rest in peace, knowing your misery has a mission.
