S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

When tragedy strikes, it is common for people to ask, 'What does this mean?' When we witness some disaster or mass murder, there is a natural feeling that what has happened should not have happened...

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July 01 2013 • 8 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lenny O'Brien

God is omnipotent. Nothing happens that God doesn’t allow. Some say; bad things happen to good people. From a carnal standpoint this appears true, but, we shouldn’t be carnal in our thinking. 

Romans 8: 28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

Romans 5: 1-5: 1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and, rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

We need to trust that God is shaping us into the image of Jesus. Through blessings and hardships. Does this mean we shouldn’t ask God for relief? No. Jesus asked God to take away His cup of suffering, but, Jesus said: “Father, not my will, but yours be done”.

Job was a righteous man. Satan asked God’s permission to inflict suffering on Job. God allowed it. When his body was afflicted, home destroyed, servants killed, and, his family dead, he said (Job 1: 21-22) “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job didn’t understand why someone righteous would suffer so, but, he knew all came from God. If it was God’s will to take it away, God had a greater purpose. He praised and trusted God through the suffering and was restored with greater blessings than before.

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10: “So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Paul was afflicted with pain he calls "a messenger of satan". God allowed this to make Paul more like Jesus. He knew suffering, even if carried to death, was temporary. Paul’s thoughts were becoming like Jesus. Seeing the eternal, rather than the finite. When we suffer, God is perfecting and humbling us. If all were blessings, our desire for God would weaken. Our walk would decrease. God wants us to understand all comes from God. Every heartbeat, every breath. He is our existence.

God allows suffering to strengthen our faith and shape us into the image of Christ. Through all, God comforts us. In our prayers, we should ask God for deliverance, but, also to see us through suffering, and, always say “Your will, not mine, be done”. We should then comfort others as God comforts us. There is joy in suffering because God is working good in our lives. Even if we suffer unto death, there are blessings on the other side of pain. God tells us: comfort, and, love each other, as I love you. God tells us do not despair. I am with you in blessings and tribulations, working all for good. Trust in me. I love you.

March 28 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report