Why does God allow bad things to happen?
This is a question posed by many believers, new and experienced, old and young. Tragedies are often misunderstood to be caused by an unfeeling God or that God doesn't truly care about His people.
These statements are lies that people often believe. God does not cause things to happen to us for no reason. There is always a reason behind our suffering, whether we recognize it or not.
The whole purpose of the trials we go through is that we may learn to lean on God and to trust Him more. He wants us to look to Him for comfort in our trials. He wants us to grow in Him, and when we choose to look to Him through our pain, instead of spurning Him, we have overcome.
Job recognized this and he spoke words that sum up all we can think or do when these trials come.
"And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I shall return. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." -Job 1:21-22
It's hard to praise God through trials. But through our pain God is challenging us to grow in Him and remain steadfast to Him.
I recently heard this poem, and I thought it correctly summed up what happens when we go through trials and tribulations.
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
I have one more verse to add to this devotion and that is James 1:2-4, 12:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."
Will you remain steadfast when the storms of life attempt to blow away your faith in the Lord Jesus?
