Why Not?

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 peter 4:12

When something bad happens to us, the first thing many of us have the tendency to say is, "Why me?" 

I lost my Dad to cancer 7 years ago, my husband went through brain cancer, and I just recently came close to losing my mom in a bad car accident. I will admit that there have been many times when I have asked God the question, "Why?"

When, really, if you think about it, why not? Bad things happen, it's just a part of life. As Christians, we are not exempt. No one is.

As I grow stronger in my faith and closer in my relationship to God, I now know that there is a reason for everything that happens to us, both the good and the bad. Trials will come our way, but what matters is how we deal with them, what we will learn from them, and how we will use them to bring glory and honor to God.

We can be sad and depressed and feel sorry for ourselves and get mad at God....or we can choose to use our trials and tribulations as opportunuties for growth. There is always something to learn from each and every experience that we go through. Our struggles make us stronger, they teach us, they build our character, and they teach us patience.

And I think most importantly, they force us to draw closer to God, to trust in Him, and to truly know what it means to depend fully and completely on Him.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. -
Romans 5: 3-4