Thank you, Lord, for my suffering. Such a strange prayer to pray, isn’t it? No one actually enjoys the trials that life throws our way. Yet, when we know our Heavenly Father and recognize Him as the true and perfect source, we can confidently rest in the peace that surpasses all understanding. You see, when life is going “according to plan” we sometimes forget to praise Him. However what happens when we lose our job? Finances aren’t quite aligning? A sickness is announced that no one planned for? Our attention has a tendency to shift very quickly and it becomes a blame game. God, why did you let this happen to me? Why me? So self-centered, asking what God owes me. Imagine, for a moment, if God gathers our attention during unfavorable times and we choose to respond with “God, what do you want to teach me in this time?” asking what God is forming in me.
He doesn’t want us to wait until we’re in the thick of disaster to turn to Him. We should be fully reliant and expressive to God in all circumstances. Because here is the stark truth – our circumstances will continue to change. But who God is never does. He is perfect. He is good. He is just. He is eternal.
Illogical as it may sound, I believe that some of our most intimate experiences with God come as a result of going through trials when we finally reach the end of ourselves, accept that we have no further power to do anything and are left solely with the choice to only rely on Him. Not that we need to be broken to receive God, but it sure does become abundantly clear at that point. Even when it was painful, we can reflect back and see God in the details. Only a good and merciful God can take an affliction in the fallen world that was meant to harm us and still turn it around to use it for our good. It shifts our focus from what has happened to us to what we have gained from a deeper appreciation of God’s truth and who He is.
God does not always give us the explanation that we are looking for. But through trials and living on this side of Heaven, we see what God forms in us through the ups and downs of life. Further proof that wisdom is far more valuable than any earthly treasure.
Firstly, God is good. Following that, God does good. It’s not the other way around, we don’t get to judge God based on what He does and does not allow to happen to us. Resist the temptation to believe that you did this on your own. The education you got, the new car you bought, the house you carefully designed, the successful communication in your marriage… those are not things you did of your own power. Those are gifts that the Almighty has enabled, empowered and aligned for you. It really is good to lean full on Him and follow His lead. He has good plans!