These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Ever have the question for God: “Why?” or you wonder just…”Why, God?” when faced with so VERY many troubles in this world?
I’m sure all of us have faced troubles that just don’t seem to go away at some point in our lives. We all live in this same world afterall. Whether those troubles be Financial troubles, family troubles, troubles within ourselves, health troubles, or even those we love having to deal with troubles. Troubles that just…dont. go. away.
Some of us have wondered, “Why doesn’t God deliver me from this, or stop this from happening to those we love, or people we feel don’t deserve to go through what they’re going through?” I know I have. And the more time goes on I cry out to the Lord at how much a hate sin, I hate death, I hate all the effects of sin and death and disease that so many people deal with every day. While I’ve taught before about the question of “If God is a loving God why is there death and suffering?” I’d like to bring up the question of “If God is our deliverer, why aren’t we getting delivered?”
First thing is, let’s be clear: God is good. And God is God. And we are not. I find it best that we remind ourselves that we are like children who don’t fully understand the world around us. Just as children wonder why their good parent doesn’t do something, or allows something, we often like a child don’t always understand. But if you’ve cared for kids you understand some things better and can only try to teach them to trust you in that situation.
But, we read in scripture how Jesus paid for our healing. Why do we or others we love suffer health problems? (Sometimes self-inflicted, other times not) Even after we pray and believe for healing? We read in scripture that God has overcome the world, so why does it seem like we are succumbing to the tribulations in the world even after praying? Why do we struggle so much when we read that Jesus came to give not just life, but life more abundantly?!
If you ask many, you might hear answers like “Well your suffering is God’s Will”–I’d like to suggest no it is not always about “God’s Will.” We read in scripture that God is good, Righteous, and wickedness is not part of His Will. Death is not God’s will but is even called an enemy. God allows some things that are NOT His will. But it is His wisdom or correction or judgment.
Other people might say “You just aren’t believing enough! You need MORE FAITH!”–I’d like to suggest that no it’s not always the case either. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is what you have BEFORE you see it. If you are praying and trusting God…as long as you’re not turning around and doubting with an inward “I don’t know if you hear me/answer me/can/will do what I ask.” then you’re having faith by continually praying and believing even if you don’t see it. Faith is what keeps you praying and believing.
So why? Why does it seem like we suffer all these things even though we are praying and believing? Why does it feel like the devil is winning sometimes when we know God is stronger, the devil is defeated, and the world is overcome? An easy answer some may have heard before goes along the lines of “If we never got sick, how would we know God is our healer?” “If we never needed help or faced a storm how would we know God is our deliverer, our shelter?” Deep down this is true yes. But…sometimes we may feel, “I already know God is my healer, deliverer, and shelter! I’ve seen it, and believe it with all my heart!” and so we wonder why, since we’ve already learned those things.
Well, the answer isn’t really one we would want. But it is one that can bring peace in the storm and comfort in the trials and tribulations. And that is: God is God and we are not. Simply: we are the children and God is the Good Father. We don’t know why we can’t have the good tasting dessert for breakfast, and we can’t see any harm in it and perhaps technically there wouldn’t be harm but our Father knows otherwise. And here’s the word: There’s a purpose for what He is doing or allowing. God doesn’t cause the trouble we face or the health issues, but there are times He allows them. Sometimes we know why and we can trust Him through it. Sometimes we don’t know why and we get confused and have trouble trusting. Sometimes the enemy or flesh uses those times we have trouble trusting in God to make us doubt God’s goodness. But we need to hold on and even when we don’t know why…Trust that God does and He has a purpose for it.
Remember in the garden when Jesus cried out to escape the horrors ahead of Him on the cross? To escape having His flesh stripped from Him, being mocked by those He came to save, being spit on, a crown of thorns shoved into His head and then after all that still having to carry the cross that He would be nailed to…all for what He Himself did not deserve. Innocent as a child who did nothing wrong but was being punished for it. He wanted to escape it SO MUCH. It wasn’t on the cross that Jesus died in that sense…but rather in the garden He died to His will and submitted to the Father’s. Because there was a purpose behind it and that was bringing salvation to others.
What about Jeremiah who was sawed in half in the trunk of a tree? The countless martyrs known and unknown? Why aren’t we escaping these things if God can do it?! Or the slow torture of health problems that our loved ones deal with?
I would suggest a few things for us as we push through: God is Good. And God is God. And we are not. We see through a lens darkly. We often want to have the life that is experienced in heaven with no pain suffering or tears…here on earth right here and now. And God is trying to get us to get our eyes off this temporary world of corruption and realize this is not our home, this is not what He wants us to settle for. We need to remember that we look FORWARD to the hope we have in Christ. The pain-free, trouble-free life is not found here in this world that has been corrupted by sin and will be burned away. That life is when we shed this corruptible body and put on the incorruptible.
If God allows things, there is some purpose behind it. Whether it be for our learning something, or our faith to increase, or even for others to be drawn to Him in some way through shining His light during our dark times…He knows. We won’t always know. But what we can know is that God is good, and God is still more than able.
Let’s hang on to Him even through tears if we must. And let’s not allow any voices of the enemy (devil or flesh) tell us otherwise. Let’s live for the purpose God has for us. No matter what that leads us to or through we can trust His Purpose is good. And ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His Purpose (Romans 8:28).
I love you all. Let’s please hold each other up in prayer every day!