When something negative happens to us, we might ask, “Why?…If God really loves me like the Bible says, how could He let this happen to me?”
Remember Joseph. His brothers hated him and cast him into a pit (Genesis 37:4,24). Ultimately he became a slave to Potiphar. In due time, God allowed him to be falsely accused of laying with Potiphar’s wife and ended up in prison (Genesis 39:20) for a number of years. During this time, I cannot help but wonder if Joseph questioned, “Why?”
Despite what he was going through, “…the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:21,23). God never left him.
Everything that happened to Joseph was of God. He allowed it.
When the severe famine came, God used Joseph to be a tremendous blessing to his family.
Sometimes we don’t understand why things happen to us. We just need to trust God, to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
What we experience while on this journey here on earth is for our good. (Romans 8:28). But, I also want to believe that it is for the good of others, that others will be blessed by the effects of our trials and testings, as Joseph’s family and surrounding nations were.
We need to be reminded that God is the potter, we are the clay.
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Little by little we are being conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
It all comes down to one thing, beloved – faith. Faith in God. Faith in knowing that He is our Father and loves us dearly. Faith that He wants the very best for us and is ordering our life to be the child of God we are meant to be.
When it seems that things are not going our way, believe that God is aware and that He is orchestrating our circumstances to get to His desired outcome.
Which reminds us that, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23, NASB)
So, do not be discouraged, child of God. The Lord may be disciplining you, may be testing you, may be trying to get your attention to go in a different direction. Whatever the reason(s), remember your Father sent his Son to die for you so you can have eternal life! He loves you with an everlasting love!
“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. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:28-29)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)