Readers, there are so many questions of “why,” which mankind experiences as we go through life. As Christ followers, we should always go to the Lord and His Word for answers, for God knows why. And yet, there are times even when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth, it is still difficult to grapple with and accept. Without further ado, for the conclusion of “Because God Said,” the question up for discussion is why do I have to go through this? The “this” in question is going to be different for each of us. It could be an illness, disease, a disability, loss, divorce, waiting, and the list can keep going. Regardless of what you are going through, in the middle of it there are feelings of frustration, hurt, pain, and tears.
Moreover, the answer as to why you are walking through what you are is going to be different. Guaranteed, living in a fallen world plays a part in it. Sin, disease, death, pain, and tears entered the world because of what happened in Genesis 3. As a Christ follower, another answer as to why may be the Lord is allowing it as a test or trial. How can we know the difference between what is part of living in a fallen world and what God is allowing? Seek the Lord regarding your situation. Whether He gives you clarity on why, know this: God wants to use what you are walking through for His glory and for purposes in you and through you. Below are three of those purposes:
- To draw closer to God.
Take a moment and reflect on what you are going through currently. In what ways is this an opportunity for you to draw closer to God? Is the Lord nudging you instead of focusing on the why, to instead focus on Him by spending intimate, quality time with Him in the Word, in prayer, and in worship?
- To become more like Christ.
Pause and reflect on this test/trial. Do you see instances where what you are going through presents opportunities for your faith and trust in the Lord to deepen? Is there a particular fruit of the Spirit, which this test/trial provides time for the fruit to grow within you? Could it be this fruit would not have grown the way it has without this test/trial?
- To be an encouragement to others.
God’s Word first and foremost, tells us about who God is and His character. Another thing God’s Word does is it shows us men and women who went through various circumstances where they might have asked themselves at one point or other, why do I have to go through this? Think for a moment about the story or book in God’s Word you find yourself drawn to reading over and over. Has their story or that passage been an encouragement to you? Has the Lord used it to remind you of who He is and His character? Like the men and women in God’s Word, God wants to use the things you face that come with living in a fallen world, and the things the Lord allows as tests/trials in your life to encourage others.
To close this series, let us look at a verse in Revelation. John writes, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11). In the first half of this verse, we read Christ followers can overcome Satan because of first Jesus’ blood and what He did by dying on the cross for the sins of every person. Secondly, we overcome Satan by sharing our testimony/story with others of God’s goodness and faithfulness during the highs and lows throughout our lives.
Notice, another important detail, which the second half of verse eleven highlights. John details the kind of believers who overcame. Those who did not “love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Could it be God is using this situation to shift your focus off this earthly life, but to focus on your eternal life with Him? Remember, this fallen earth is not our home (Hebrews 13:14).
It is easy to love life on earth and focus on it because this is what we see. Yet, it is when we are reminded of how fallen and broken this world is, and when the Lord allows us to walk through tests/trials that our hearts long for a time where we do not have to go through the “this” we are facing. It is in those times, the Lord invites us to put to death mindsets that are not pleasing to Him, behaviors that are rooted in the flesh, and to instead focus our attention on the Lord.
So, readers, be encouraged. Whatever you are going through will come to an end in time. Trust the Lord. As you wait for that time, keep your mind and heart on the Lord. Allow Him to transform you to be more like Christ and follow His ways. Focus on how He wants to use you to love, serve, disciple, and encourage His people.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: New International Version