When bad things happen to us, we are sometimes tempted to assume that they slipped past God without His notice. We find it hard to believe that God would allow (or intentionally send) bad things to come our way.
But, the Bible is clear that God is intricately involved in the good AND bad that happens to us each day.
John 3:27
"John answered, 'A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.'"
Job 2:9-10
"Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.' But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips."
If we grow disgruntled with the "bad" stuff that happens to us today and refuse to see God's hand in it, we may miss an incredible opportunity to grow. Here are just a few things that God desires to accomplish by allowing bad things to happen to us:
- Grow in our realization of our human frailty.
- Grow in our dependence upon Him.
- Grow in our fellowship with Him.
- Grow in our disdain for sin in our lives.
- Grow in our desire for holiness.
- Grow in our desire for Heaven.
- Etc.
So, don't write off bad things in your life as so much junk to tolerate and just struggle through. God allows those bad things to come our way to do some really amazing things in our lives.
Look for Him in the tough times today. He wants to help you grow as a result of them today.
