God Allowed It

As often as we may find ourselves in the midst of circumstances that tempt us to complain, recall the words of Job 2:10. Next, make an attitudinal U-turn, telling yourself: “DON’T----God allowed it!” Lest we be guilty of complaining against God Himself, we MUST train our minds and hearts to really give thanks IN everything—despite how unnatural or counterintuitive that seems! Life gives us numerous opportunities to practice this aspect of a “renewed mind,” does it not? We’ve undoubtedly heard many sermons over the years about the exceedingly broad topic of adversity: its inevitability and how to respond to it with the proper attitude, i.e., by embracing a godly disposition of trusting God, if we’re to GROW through it.

Despite this command in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, to be thankful in the midst of trials, such circumstances challenge even those who’ve been saved for many years to look heavenward, asking our Lord ‘Why?’ Why do we wrestle so against this “staple” of the human experience? Job 5:7 says that “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Most of us can quote John 16:33(b), which reminds us that in this world we will have tribulation, but that we’re to choose to be of good cheer, because in our Savior we really have overcome this world! “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

For an extensive treatment on “bad things happening to good people,” I highly recommend, along with the Book of Job, a book by the late Dr. James Dobson called When God Doesn’t Make Sense. For people who’ve unwittingly chosen to cherish a God of their own making, as referenced in 2 Corinthians 11:4, rather than the perfectly holy, perfectly loving, perfectly just, and absolutely sovereign God of the Bible, it makes sense to reexamine the Scriptures and firmly embrace the One who causes ALL things to work together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to HIS purposes. (Rom. 8:28)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we ask Your forgiveness for at times failing to walk by faith or for “fainting in the day of adversity,” (Proverbs 24:10). Help us to remember that You came not to save us from all trouble, as one preacher put it, but to be IN trouble WITH us! For that we praise and exalt Your holy and awesome name! Amen!
By Denise Diggs