Have you ever asked God the questions, “Why Lord? Why is this happening to me?” Usually, the reason these questions come up is not because my life is just so jam packed with blessings and that’s all I see, but they come up because something bad has happened. When unforeseen events, negative events, or even just difficult events take place, it can cause me to ask - “Why Lord?”
I want to jump to some odd scriptures real quick:
Acts 16:22-23 - The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully; and
Acts 5:40 - His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.
These verses really bothered me when I was younger. I kept wondering - “Why God?” These men were doing what was right and they were praising Your name and preaching the gospel. How is it fair that they had to go through such awful things…wrongfully thrown into jail, beatings, defamation of character and the humiliation that came with it all. "Why God?"
As I kept reading these verses, I would become angry at the disciples because they didn’t seem to understand the injustice that was going on. Silas and Paul in the innermost part of a prison singing a song to God. What!? How can you be worshiping God when such an injustice was done against you? Then, if you keep reading, the Apostles walk down the road rejoicing and laughing with one another about the beating that just happened. Ok, I’m missing something here. I just know it. God, how is it possible that these men suffered actual tragedy but never once started asking, “Why God are you doing this to me? Why God have you stolen my happiness? Why God are you being mean to me?”
Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
The older I get, the more I see the Lord teaching me that, although He may not be sending all the issues I face in life, God is certainly amazing enough to use them! The worst of the worst situations can be used for the glory of God. This, in no way, shape, or form, means that the pain, discomfort, or stress is lifted from them. But there is hope. Hope that even in my prison, I can rejoice. Hope that even after life has beaten me down, I can find peace. Hope that even after the accusations and attacks on my character, I can find endurance. Even though it looks dark, I can know that there is light. See, God has been showing me that troubles are only useless if I don’t turn them over to Him. However, if I do turn them over to Him and allow Him to teach me through the pain, through the discomfort, and through the tears, then that is when He grows me exponentially more in faith.
I took time this week to reflect on the hardest valleys In my past and I found myself thanking God because it was in those moments that He grew me. Now, I certainly didn’t see it a lot of the time. But looking back, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today in my walk with the Lord if not for those valleys. Painful situations produce Powerful Warriors. Look at any manual labor job. Can you get good at it without causing your body pain? Look at any athlete. Can you get to the professional level without injury, bruises, or blood, sweat, and tears? There is no skill or achievement in life that doesn’t require uncomfortability or sacrifice. It was essential for me to learn that the valley, though difficult and unpleasant, is the thing I needed most. Why? Because it pushed me closer to God than I have ever been. God used it to teach me lessons I would never have learned. God gave me faith that now cannot be shaken. I hope that you will join me today in thanking God for this painful happiness I have today.
If you find yourself in a valley, I pray that you will turn it over to God and start asking Him, “Lord, what do you have for me to learn through this?” Always remember, He is faithful and you are not alone!
