Acquaintedಮಾದರಿ

God allows hardships for different reasons, depending on the person, situation, and how He wants to work in and through us and/or others.

For one, He allows suffering to preserve human free will. Jesus wants to allow for genuine love and choice, rather than forced obedience. God fosters spiritual growth, compassion, and reliance on Him, which ultimately work toward the greater good. Sometimes our own rebellion can be the cause of our suffering. (Eze. 20:8)

Suffering can mature faith, build perseverance, and develop character, leading to a Godly perspective. Suffering can surely shift our focus from Earthly temporary comforts to the eternal life that we are promised. Suffering, while painful, is often interpreted by faith as a tool to draw individuals closer to God and to prepare them for a future purpose. I am a direct testimony to this fact. I became more tenderhearted, compassionate, and sensitive to hurting people when I lost many close individuals within one year.

I have now been writing Bible plans for the past couple of years as a result of that immense pain. (Purpose!) Jesus offers us companionship and redemption in the midst of our sufferings. (Titus 2:14)

I have also been divorced, so I know all too well how He walked me through that very trying season of life that I thought would never end. "7 years," to be exact. The number "7" in Scripture=completion! Sometimes, you have to suffer quite a while to learn what is needed to grow in the deep soil that Jesus is tilling.

One might say, "Why would God let someone hurt for that long?" Sometimes, it's longer than that...depending on how long it takes you to "take the test" without repeating the same answers that are wrong over and over. And then sometimes, He has a set time in mind as He prepares hearts and minds for what's ahead.

I've been betrayed many times, and it takes longer for some instances than others to get through those tests. Depending on what I choose to believe about God and whether I have chosen to trust His plan rather than formulate my own, the test can take longer, or not.

Sometimes, suffering comes merely to reveal the glory of God. God chooses special ones from His children to endure some of the worst seasons in order to magnify Himself because He knows with whom He can trust. Even through great heartache, He knows who will keep the faith throughout. The death of Lazarus was one instance of suffering for God's glory-reveal, and the man blind from birth whom Jesus healed was another.

No matter the specific reason, trust that your God is faithful and has a plan, even if you cannot see it right away.