Given September 20, 2011

Imagine this: Someone has just experienced a tragic loss; they’ve lost a loved one, ended a relationship, lost a job, lost something very valuable, had an accident, or got a serious disease.  They can’t understand why God would allow this to happen to them.  They  are suffering and get so mad at God that they reject Jesus, renouncing Him as Lord and Savior.  What a tragedy!  Why does God allow things like this to happen?  I suggest because He loves us.  You think this is crazy, don’t you?

What about a coach who “allows” his players time in the weight room, hard practice drills, and exhausting activities accompanied by pain.  Why does he make them go through all this?  Could it be he wants them to improve their strength, skills, and abilities so they will have success later?  Do you think that’s crazy?

I’m suggesting we all go through trials, loss, and pain. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).  If we’re all going to suffer at times, wouldn’t it be better to trust God and see what we can learn in our trials; to be strengthened by the situation and stay faithful to Him?  In our loss we can get closer to God and have His joy and peace, even without what we lost.  Maybe we were putting too much emphasis on what we lost and God wanted to get us back in balance because He loves us and knows what would happen in the future if we continued the way we were going.  “.. he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

Compared to eternity, we are only in this life for less than a second.  Think about it…how tragic would it be for someone to get mad at God and give up eternity with Him because of a loss we suffered during that fraction of a second.  And keep in mind that if we stay faithful and allow God to minister to us through the trial, when we get to Heaven, we’ll have no loss.  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).  We’ll be healed, reunited with loved ones, and realize how insignificant the other things were.  What a tragedy…giving up eternity with God because of a one second loss!

So, if you’re going through something right now, if you’ve suffered some tragic loss, ask God to show you how you can be “refined” as gold and come out much better on the other side.  “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).