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Many people have bad things happen in their lives, and tend to ask the question, "Why did God let this happen in my life?" Today, we are going to answer this question with Scripture.
But before we answer this question, it's important that we remember who we are and who GOD is. We are His creation, and He is our Creator. In light of that, we need to step back and remember that God doesn't owe us anything. Life is a gift, despite the struggles we go through. In good seasons and in bad.
Now that our mind is in the right place we can ask "why do bad things happen," PERIOD. And to get that answer, we have to start from the beginning. We need to remember that God created a perfect world that we destroyed through sin. And this opened the doors to sickness, suffering, pain, and ultimately death. But as believers, through the Bible, we know that God will use every suffering to make us more like Christ. Romans 8:28 says,
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
In Genesis chapters 37-50 we see Joseph was no stranger to this truth. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers who were jealous of him. Then as a slave in Egypt he was falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. Can you imagine how he felt being sold into slavery by his family and eventually ending up in prison because of it? He might've said, "Why is God allowing this to happen?" So what happened 14 years later that made Joseph say the following to his once jealous brothers,
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
-Genesis 50:20
Joseph eventually realized that God purposed Joseph's situation in prison so that he would meet someone close to Pharaoh, so that when the Pharaoh had a tormenting and unexplainable dream, Joseph would be able to interpret it. Joseph was able to warn that there was going to be 7 years of good crops followed by 7 years of drought and famine. The pharaoh put Joseph in charge of planning for this disaster, and as a result Egypt was saved and many people in the region were able to ask for help. This included Joseph's brothers who came to ask him for help and so the family was able to survive the famine. This ensured that the bloodline, that would one day bring the promised Messiah, would not be broken. This reminds us that God has a purpose to every season in our lives. Whatever happens, whether it's a loss, a friendship breakup, an injury, a tragic loss etc., God has a purpose and a reason as to why it's happening. And like Joseph, usually we don't see "why," till much later on in life.
1 Peter 1:6-7 says,
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Through trials, He will begin to show us more of who He is. God uses our suffering to test our faith. To see if we will believe and keep on obeying Him through the hard times in life.
To close this devotional, God has a perfect plan he will complete that we cannot fully comprehend now. Despite whatever is happening in our lives, we can rest in the truth that God is working in ways we can't even begin to comprehend. He is doing wonderful things. He is answering prayers, closing doors, and opening doors through every season in life, whether we are in the best season or the worst, we are safe in His hands all the way into eternity. Praise the Lord forever!
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