'Why does God allow suffering?' How many times have you heard someone ask that , or even asked it yourself? I know I have... I was recently watching a DVD message from Louie Giglio and he brought a whole new light to this question.
John 16:33 says- '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.' Jesus tells us WE WILL have troubles in this world.... as Christians we are fighting a battle against the enemy. In that battle, there will be hard times.... Louie then went on to say some of the most profound words that I have heard in a long time....
He says that when the bottom of life falls out on us, we look at the situation and question it. We may be crushed, heartbroken, or absolutely devastated and feel that the nothing in life matters anymore. But it is in those times that we should look at the cross of Jesus Christ.
Imagine that you were there on that Good Friday- watching Jesus be beaten and crucified... the One that you had put so much trust, faith and hope in. You truly believed that He was the Saviour of the world, yet you are watching him die. Those people that were there must have been thinking that that was the absolute worst thing that could ever have happened. It was the worst thing- the Son of the Living God was being crucified. I have no idea what I would have done if I was there that day. But I wasn't... I am here some 2000 years later, looking at the cross of Christ with a much different perspective. When I look at what happen that day, I see that it was in fact the GREATEST thing that has ever happen in this world.
So you see, when hard times come, and they will... we may think that it is the worst thing ever, but we must have that peace in God, knowing that He can take that terrible, horrible situation and turn it into something beautiful.
I hope that I will be able to praise my Lord in the hard times, knowing that He is with me!