Last Sunday, we were reminded that life has its share of ups and downs (Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4). There are the things we celebrate, like the birth of a child or grandchild, birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, or the news of a promotion. But there are also the things that bring pain and sorrow: the loss of a loved one, a worrisome diagnosis, or being furloughed from your job.
We asked ourselves, "What can we do when here is a hard place to be?"
To start, we remembered that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28), and we were encouraged—as best we can—to see God's good intention behind our moments of suffering. To help us do this, we were given three questions to ask ourselves whenever "here" is not where you want to be:
Is God using this to build my character and faith?
Is God using this to prepare me to help others?
Is God using this to show his divine power through me?
Have you been experiencing a painful trial? Be encouraged to look for God's good intention behind it. It might not bring resolution to your pain, but it will encourage your heart, reminding you that God is using this for his good, redemptive purposes in and through your life, even when it is difficult for you to understand it.