I have yet to find a verse in the Bible that says, “Trust in God and you will be able understand why.” Or, “Trust in God and everything will make sense.” If anyone finds these verses, let me know! But I’m pretty sure they aren’t there…
God can reveal the plan to us so we are able to understand, but many times He doesn’t. Many times, we will never find out the answer to why while we are here on earth.
We have to be okay with that fact and even come to grips with it.
We have to be able to say, “I don’t need to understand in order to trust.” “I don’t need to know why in order for my faith to stand firm.”
I don’t understand why so many innocent people are dying every day.
But God is still in control.
I don’t understand why my life is following a path I never expected.
But God is still good.
I don’t understand why people I love have cancer.
But God is still faithful.
I don’t understand why bad news seems to be the only news.
But God is still for me, not against me.
You see, no matter what comes in life, our first response should always be “But God…”
If we were to consciously stop and put those words at the end of everything we say regarding trials, how would our attitude change? How would our outlook change? How would our witness to others change?
"I don’t know how I am going to pay this bill, but God will provide."
"This problem is so big and so out of my control, but God is going to walk through it with me."
"I see so much destruction, and I feel afraid, but God is holding my hand and says “Do not fear. I am with you.”
Do you see how everything changes when put under the light of who God is? Maybe nothing has changed in the physical sense. In our minds, though, where so much of the battle is fought, we find hope and victory.
Rather than just focusing on the painful trials we are facing personally or the horrific problems our world is facing globally, we need to shine the light of Christ on these situations. We need to point those around us to the hope of Christ. Hope that stands firm in the midst of the trials. Hope that can never be taken from those who are in Christ Jesus.
The world hears enough about the despair of the darkness. As Christians, we have the source of light, the only true source of Hope. How can we not shine that light for all to see?
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." -John 1:5
God can reveal the plan to us so we are able to understand, but many times He doesn’t. Many times, we will never find out the answer to why while we are here on earth.
We have to be okay with that fact and even come to grips with it.
We have to be able to say, “I don’t need to understand in order to trust.” “I don’t need to know why in order for my faith to stand firm.”
I don’t understand why so many innocent people are dying every day.
But God is still in control.
I don’t understand why my life is following a path I never expected.
But God is still good.
I don’t understand why people I love have cancer.
But God is still faithful.
I don’t understand why bad news seems to be the only news.
But God is still for me, not against me.
You see, no matter what comes in life, our first response should always be “But God…”
If we were to consciously stop and put those words at the end of everything we say regarding trials, how would our attitude change? How would our outlook change? How would our witness to others change?
"I don’t know how I am going to pay this bill, but God will provide."
"This problem is so big and so out of my control, but God is going to walk through it with me."
"I see so much destruction, and I feel afraid, but God is holding my hand and says “Do not fear. I am with you.”
Do you see how everything changes when put under the light of who God is? Maybe nothing has changed in the physical sense. In our minds, though, where so much of the battle is fought, we find hope and victory.
Rather than just focusing on the painful trials we are facing personally or the horrific problems our world is facing globally, we need to shine the light of Christ on these situations. We need to point those around us to the hope of Christ. Hope that stands firm in the midst of the trials. Hope that can never be taken from those who are in Christ Jesus.
The world hears enough about the despair of the darkness. As Christians, we have the source of light, the only true source of Hope. How can we not shine that light for all to see?
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." -John 1:5