Can this Pain be for Good?
Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of 9/11. We remembered. And, as horrendous that day was, so are the atrocities of evil in Afghanistan. And, then there are the victims of the recent hurricanes that ravaged homes and lives. And, what about those who have suffered and died from Covid? Suffering and pain continue. Of course, we seek God for answers. “Since You are such a good, good, Father and are our “refuge and strength and our ever-present help in trouble”, how can there be such pain and suffering in our world?”
And the answer always comes in realizing our Sovereign God knows best and so we trust. Not only does He care, but He cares enough to have sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us. It doesn’t mean that we will no longer suffer in this world, but it does mean that we will spend eternity with God. There will come a day when God “will wipe every tear from” our eyes and, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” (Revelation 21:4).
In the meantime, because the enemy of our souls is out to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), there will always be evil and suffering along the way. But we can rejoice with the Apostle Paul who wrote: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18). That helps me “get a grip”. This life is just a breath compared to FOREVER!
King Solomon wrote about seasons and times in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “time for birth and death; time to kill and heal; time for weeping and laughing; time to mourn and dance; time for war, and a time for peace.” That list represents the important matters of our lives. Some are happy times, some are sad; some inspire peace and others bring pain. But all of them are necessary for us to learn, grow, and be resilient and determined to press on. If we look closely enough, each experience reveals a loving, divine purpose that we can learn to trust God more.
I share this with you from experience. Yesterday marked the birthday of my precious husband. I enjoyed many seasons with him before his graduation day to heaven. There were times of weeping and times of laughing. I laugh a lot these days. My time for weeping is over, but there was a time to mourn and a time to dance.
I know it’s difficult to fathom any good that can come out of the devastation and pain in our world. I pray each day for God’s protection over my family and nation. I’m sure you do the same. But, when our prayers seem unanswered, how can we continue trusting the One to whom we pray? First, it’s when our prayers seem unanswered that we MOST NEED to trust Him. And in those times, He is with us and He promises to turn all those times into something good if we are His followers (Romans 8:28).
Today it may not feel like there is hope on the horizon for a fast track out of our circumstances. The passage from here to there may seem like a dark and endless tunnel, but I assure you, one day, we’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel and we’ll realize the gifts we received during these days. There is a gift in every crisis or challenge — in every transition of life. As we discover the gift in every season, we learn to trust that loving, divine purpose behind it.
I don’t know what struggle you might be facing. But I know that God is faithful. I know that what the enemy intends for your harm, God will use for your good. Will you hold on and trust Him as He leads you out? Lord, please help us to look to You and Your promises that no pain is wasted – that You have a plan and it will be for our good!