Devotions For Times of Crisis ~ Day 2: “Why is God putting me through this?”
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
When a crisis hits, we feel the security and the certainty in our lives flee away from us at light speed. Gone is the sense of well-being. Gone is the satisfaction with our lives and our daily routines. There is an overwhelming sense that we are in a very deep ocean, with no boat around and no life-preserver to grab onto, and we’re about to go under. For those of us who insist on “living in the future” our minds begin to race uncontrollably, imagining every worse-case scenario imaginable. There is a sense of immanent threat or danger. There may also be a definite feeling that we are beyond the help of human beings, or at least without access to those who can help. That just increases the sense of foreboding that is washing over us uncontrollably.
In that drowning sea of unpredictability, uncertainty, fear, and loneliness we are apt to ask the question, somewhere along the line, “Why is God putting me through this?If God is in control of everything, and this calamity has befallen me, then why is God putting me through this? Is it to strengthen my faith? Is it to teach me a lesson? Is he testing me? Is he setting me up to be of help to someone else in the future who will go through a similar experience?” These are all questions that flood our minds. Sometimes we feel that if we could just read the mind of God and know that there is some meaning behind what we’re going through that it would be easier to bear with the burden.
The trouble is, we can’t read God’s mind. so the questions go unanswered; or so it would seem. But perhaps the problem is with the question itself. One thing I know, and know for sure: God doesn’t play with people as if they were toys. He doesn’t toy with us. He doesn’t put us through the ringer just to teach us a lesson, or to test us, or to punish us. God is a faithful God, not a manipulative and sadistic God.
God is NOT the source of crisis. God is not the cause of evil in our lives. He may use crises in our lives to strengthen us in faith, or to shape us as the individuals that He has called us to be in Christ Jesus, but He does not cause them.
We live in a sin-fallen world. Crises hit us all, and over a lifetime we’ll face many-a crisis. We are told in God’s Word that “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Whether it be the random happening of sin’s effects in this sin-fallen world, or the intentional attack of the devil on our lives to cause us harm, God has made us a promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What Satan or the world may throw our way to cause us harm, God will twist and force to be something that brings us ultimate and eternal good and blessing. God forces evil to serve our eternal salvation.
Through the crisis we will learn to rely on God in ways that we have never perhaps experienced before. We will learn the truth of Scripture which tells us that God is “…my rock and my salvation” (Psalm 62:2). We will learn that God is there for us, even when we fear that He has abandoned us. We will know what it is like to find rest by committing ourselves into the Lord’s hands. So, our faith will be strengthened. But we must never confuse something that we learn with the purpose for which we experience tragedy. God doesn’t torture us in order to instruct us, He doesn’t play us that way, but He can – and will – use painful experiences to strength our faith.
God is faithful. With crises come certain temptations; temptations to doubt His goodness, His love, His promises. But God will never let a temptation come our way that can completely overtake us. He will always provide a way out. A temptation in crisis is to doubt His care and love. A way out is to remember that He is not a liar. He has made certain promises to you in Jesus Christ, and He cannot deny Himself. Cling to those promises and the temptation to hold God responsible for the crisis that has hit you will evaporate.
Know that God is actively at work through the process that you’ve now entered to fight for you. He didn’t bring it on you, but He will be working behind the scenes in His own mysterious, yet powerful, ways to turn this evil into something that serves your eternal interests. He will see you through. He is faithful. He is good. He loves you to death – not your death, but the death of His Son.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I don’t know why this event has happened to me, but I do know that it’s not something that You’ve brought my way. I believe that you are with me, and that you are fighting for me. You’ve promised to walk right beside me, even if I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Please give me your peace, your comfort, signs and remembrances of your love for me. Shorten the days of this crisis, and see me through safely to the other side of it. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Devotions For Times of Crisis ~ Day 2: “Why is God putting me through this?”
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
When a crisis hits, we feel the security and the certainty in our lives flee away from us at light speed. Gone is the sense of well-being. Gone is the satisfaction with our lives and our daily routines. There is an overwhelming sense that we are in a very deep ocean, with no boat around and no life-preserver to grab onto, and we’re about to go under. For those of us who insist on “living in the future” our minds begin to race uncontrollably, imagining every worse-case scenario imaginable. There is a sense of immanent threat or danger. There may also be a definite feeling that we are beyond the help of human beings, or at least without access to those who can help. That just increases the sense of foreboding that is washing over us uncontrollably.
In that drowning sea of unpredictability, uncertainty, fear, and loneliness we are apt to ask the question, somewhere along the line, “Why is God putting me through this? If God is in control of everything, and this calamity has befallen me, then why is God putting me through this? Is it to strengthen my faith? Is it to teach me a lesson? Is he testing me? Is he setting me up to be of help to someone else in the future who will go through a similar experience?” These are all questions that flood our minds. Sometimes we feel that if we could just read the mind of God and know that there is some meaning behind what we’re going through that it would be easier to bear with the burden.
The trouble is, we can’t read God’s mind. so the questions go unanswered; or so it would seem. But perhaps the problem is with the question itself. One thing I know, and know for sure: God doesn’t play with people as if they were toys. He doesn’t toy with us. He doesn’t put us through the ringer just to teach us a lesson, or to test us, or to punish us. God is a faithful God, not a manipulative and sadistic God.
God is NOT the source of crisis. God is not the cause of evil in our lives. He may use crises in our lives to strengthen us in faith, or to shape us as the individuals that He has called us to be in Christ Jesus, but He does not cause them.
We live in a sin-fallen world. Crises hit us all, and over a lifetime we’ll face many-a crisis. We are told in God’s Word that “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Whether it be the random happening of sin’s effects in this sin-fallen world, or the intentional attack of the devil on our lives to cause us harm, God has made us a promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What Satan or the world may throw our way to cause us harm, God will twist and force to be something that brings us ultimate and eternal good and blessing. God forces evil to serve our eternal salvation.
Through the crisis we will learn to rely on God in ways that we have never perhaps experienced before. We will learn the truth of Scripture which tells us that God is “…my rock and my salvation” (Psalm 62:2). We will learn that God is there for us, even when we fear that He has abandoned us. We will know what it is like to find rest by committing ourselves into the Lord’s hands. So, our faith will be strengthened. But we must never confuse something that we learn with the purpose for which we experience tragedy. God doesn’t torture us in order to instruct us, He doesn’t play us that way, but He can – and will – use painful experiences to strength our faith.
God is faithful. With crises come certain temptations; temptations to doubt His goodness, His love, His promises. But God will never let a temptation come our way that can completely overtake us. He will always provide a way out. A temptation in crisis is to doubt His care and love. A way out is to remember that He is not a liar. He has made certain promises to you in Jesus Christ, and He cannot deny Himself. Cling to those promises and the temptation to hold God responsible for the crisis that has hit you will evaporate.
Know that God is actively at work through the process that you’ve now entered to fight for you. He didn’t bring it on you, but He will be working behind the scenes in His own mysterious, yet powerful, ways to turn this evil into something that serves your eternal interests. He will see you through. He is faithful. He is good. He loves you to death – not your death, but the death of His Son.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I don’t know why this event has happened to me, but I do know that it’s not something that You’ve brought my way. I believe that you are with me, and that you are fighting for me. You’ve promised to walk right beside me, even if I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Please give me your peace, your comfort, signs and remembrances of your love for me. Shorten the days of this crisis, and see me through safely to the other side of it. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.