Why is This Happening?

 

We often doubt our self when we go through some form of tribulation. We think that God is punishing us, or failing to protect us. Sometimes, tribulation comes as a result of us reaping the consequences of our choices. At other times, it is because we are so busy working for God that He cannot work in and through us. The key to success in tribulation is to learn to seek God’s guidance, to rejoice regardless of the situation, to look for God’s little love letters that He provides throughout the day and to hide under the shelter of His wings (Psalm 61:4).

For instance, my former husband of twenty-two years told me that he saw no option for us but divorce, sold our home and struck out into the great unknown to seek his place in life. This threw me into immediate turmoil. I had to relocate, find several jobs to support myself and wonder where God was in the midst of all of the pain and chaos. I knew that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:9); and I married a Christian Pastor, so why was this happening to me? God immediately started to provide for me.

Taking me back to my supportive natural family, God put it in their hearts to take me under their wings. He healed my soul by opening the door at a Montessori training school and divorce recovery programs at two separate local churches. He introduced me to women friends going through similar circumstances. Confirming to me that He intended to provide for me and not to injure me, He gave me hope for my uncertain future (Jeremiah 29:11). Two years later I met and married a Pastor whose wife divorced him. God restored our ministries and gave us unconditional love through His presence in each other.

The Bible gives us many examples of hope in tribulation. Even while obeying Jesus’ directives, the disciples often found themselves in turmoil (Mathew 14:22). One time, they floundered in an angry sea and prepared to meet their death (Mark 6:48). When their hope ebbed, Jesus walked out to them on the water and calmed the storm. This is when the disciples realized that Jesus truly was the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). Jesus came to them at just the right moment.

Jesus always calms the storms for all of His children. God uses tribulation in our life to perfect us and to prove His faithfulness to us. We do not always understand why. That is the reason it is called faith. The wondrous thing about faith is we do not have to understand why...it just is; and it all works out for our eventual good, even if we never understand why. At times, blind faith is all that gets us through the murky waters of life. Reading God’s Word always provides stability and hope for us.

Prayer:

Father God, You love us enough to sacrifice Your Son on our behalf (John 3:16). You never leave us or forsake us (Hebrew 13:4-6). At times, You must discipline us for our errant behavior, or to prod us back on Your chosen path for us. It may be painful for a little while, but it all brings about in us Your peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

Thought for the Day:
Tribulation is our opportunity to grow deeper in our faith, love, union and devotion to God. – Hebrews 12:6-7