Most of us have had experiences that left us struggling
for answers.We can be confounded by the
question, "Why did this happen?"
Such experiences
usually involve tragedies, such as illnesses, injuries, or deaths.
Sometimes we know
the answers, sometimes don't like the answers, but many times we don't know why
these things have happened.
At such times, Christians must trust in God, who knows
infinitely more than we can know.
We see events
with a narrow perspective, but God sees them in the broadest way.In a sense, we see them as a single piece of
a puzzle, whereas He sees the whole puzzle assembled.
Scripture says
that "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and
laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13).God sees and knows all.
Furthermore, Scripture
says that God "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or
think" (Eph. 3:20).
Therefore, we
must trust God to see that which we cannot see and to do that which we cannot
imagine.
GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD
God promises ultimate good to those who love Him.
For Christians,
one of the most comforting passages in Scripture is Romans 8:28, which says,
And we know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to
His purpose.
In the context of
this passage, "all things" includes hardships, such as tribulation, distress,
persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword (Rom. 8:35).By God's providence, even these will work
together for good to those who love God.
Notice that this
passage does not say that all things will work out for good for everybody.Instead, it promises ultimate good only for
those who love God.
Compare this to
God's words to Israel in Deuteronomy 7:9-10:
9"Know
therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His
covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love
Him and keep His commandments; 10but repays those who hate Him to
their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will
repay him to his face."
We cannot control many events that happen, but we can
determine to love God.
If we want to ensure
a good outcome for ourselves in any event, then we must simply love God.Loving God gives us the guarantee that even
the worst experiences in our lives will eventually turn out for good.God causes this to be so.
Jesus said that
the greatest commandment is, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37).Certainly, part of this commandment's
greatness is its good outcome for all who obey it.
Love for God is
heartfelt affection and adoration for Him, but it is also a practical
expression of obedience to His will.Notice 1John 5:2-3:
2By this
we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His
commandments.3For this is
the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not
burdensome.
Thus, we can know
that every event in our lives will work out for ultimate good if we love God
with all of our hearts, souls, and minds by faithfully keeping His
commandments.We may not know how this
will happen, but we know that it will happen.
TRUST IN THE LORD
We must trust God to provide for our ultimate good
even when we do not understand.
Knowing that
God's understanding is infinite and our understanding is very limited, we must
trust Him in ways that exceed our comprehension.Consider Proverbs 3:5-6:
5Trust in
the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Trust is a major
component in our faith, for "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).We must trust that God sees what we do not.
This trust is put
to the test in times of hardship.Will
we follow God's guidance through the difficulties, or will we blame Him or deny
Him?
When there is tragedy -- illness, injury, death, etc. --
Christians must trust that God will cause it to work for good even when we
cannot see any possible way.
Remember that God sees the whole puzzle and we see
only one piece.He sees how it all works
together for good when we cannot see.Therefore, we must trust Him.
Examples of Scripture teach us the necessity of
trusting God through our faith.
Consider Abraham,
who was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, even though it seemed contrary to
God's promises (Gen. 22:1-18).Abraham
did not know how this piece fit into the puzzle, but by faith he trusted that
God knew.Notice Hebrews 11:17-19:
17By faith
Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the
promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom
it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called."19He considered that God is able
to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a
type.
Consider the
example of Jesus and the contrast of His disciples.Jesus saw the whole puzzle, but His disciples
did not.
Jesus knew that
it was necessary for Him to die for the Father's will to be done (Acts 2:23),
but the disciples did not understand this.Notice Matthew 16:21-23:
21From
that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and
suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and be raised up on the third day.22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God
forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen
to You."23But He turned and
said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You
are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's
interests, but man's."
While Jesus "entrusted Himself to Him who judges
righteously" (1Pet. 2:23), His disciples first attempted to fight for Him and
then fled from Him (Matt. 26:51-56).
Consider Paul,
who trusted God enough to put his life in peril for the gospel even when he did
not understand what would happen to him.Notice Paul's words in Acts 20:22-24:
22"And
now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what
will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit solemnly
testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.24But I do not consider my life of
any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry
which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the
grace of God."
Trusting God sometimes means remaining faithful
without all of the answers.
We are
accountable to God, but He is not accountable to us.He does not have to explain anything to us,
and we have no right to demand answers from Him.
Consider Job, who
demanded an audience with God concerning his suffering.When he finally received it, He was never
told by God why he had suffered.Even
without any answers, Job said, "I know that You can do all things, and that no
purpose of Yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2).
Even Jesus asked His
Father from the cross, "Why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46).No answer was given, but Jesus trusted
Himself to the Father regardless.
In faith, we must
be satisfied and trust in the answers God has given in His word.Consider a few passages that pertain:
Proverbs 16:4 -- The
LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of
evil.
Proverbs 16:9 -- The
mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Isaiah 55:8-9 -- 8"For
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the
LORD.9"For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts
than your thoughts."
Jeremiah 10:23 --
I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who
walks to direct his steps.
CONCLUSION
Our faith is tested each time we are challenged to
trust God.Will we trust in Him, or will
we lean on our own understanding (or lack of it)?
We cannot see how each piece fits into the whole
puzzle, but we must trust that God sees it all clearly.
