Last time, I asked the question, “Why do some things in life have to be so hard?”
First of all we need to recognize there is a reality happening we cannot see. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul warns us there are “cosmic forces” and ” the spiritual forces of evil” who are wrestling against us. They may very well be influencing people, circumstances, even our even our own thoughts to work against us. We are not told great deal about how they work, but there are some clues in scripture. The important thing is to ask the Lord of the Angel Armies to work on our behalf and fix our eyes on Jesus.
Secondly, everything around us is in a state of deterioration. Adam and Eve’s sin not only brought mortality to their children but everything in creation. This is so constant that it is one of the laws of physics.
Lastly, God is in control, whatever is happening – he is allowing.
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:10-12
God has a variety of purposes for allowing the negative to happen in our lives. First, he is calling us to seek him more, his help. He is drawing us to himself. Second he has something to teach us through this process, he is refining us. Third, he is disciplining us as his children (Hebrews 12:7-12). Finally, suffering will draw us closer to Christ, more ready for his glory. (1 Peter 4:13)
Knowing these things may not make going through hardship easy, but we can praise God for what he is doing in us, turning all things into good.
remadepreacher 