If you are reading this today, chances are you are struggling with something. We all experience hardship at some point. Some of our problems are perhaps “small” compared to those of others, however, we all have our own set of issues and difficulties.
Have you ever had a year when everything that can go wrong in your life happens at once? I have; 2003 was that year for me. Mom was diagnosed with cancer, I flunked one of my state exams at school, and the day after mom’s surgery, grandpa passed away. It was a rough year for the whole family. Many times, we would question God amid our hardship asking Him: “why are we going through so many things at the same time?”
I am sure you have been there before; it seems that no matter how much you try; things don’t get better. Yeah, I feel you, that was teenager me. I couldn’t understand many things back then.
I’ve spoken to people that have passed through difficult stuff, some of it bigger than what I’ve been through. And some of the things they mention are: “I am mad at God, I don’t understand him” , “I stopped going to church, it seems like things are worse when I am closer to God”, “ I can’t pray anymore it’s hard for me to do so in this situation”.
But, you know what?
All these things are completely normal things to say when you are experiencing hardship, and even perhaps living the hardest moments of your life. You shouldn’t feel bad about them. The wrong thing to do would be to believe that God is not living them with you. When you’re mad at God, tell Him about it. If you don’t understand why you’re going through what you’re going through, tell Him. Whenever you want to cry, cry with Him. If you feel like not talking to Him, tell Him how you feel. But never, never stop looking for Him. He is the only one that can help you understand the “why” of your trial.
“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. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.“
My mom’s surgery was a success, she is a cancer survivor. Because of the miracle God did in her, two family members gave their life to God. I was able to get into college despite my low scores in the state exam. We still live with the hope that we will see grandpa at the second coming of Jesus. I now better understand why things happened the way they did.
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