God Uses Long Range Planning

When God gave us free will He allowed us to make our own decisions. As you have probably heard your mother say, "when we make our choices we choose our consequences!" While our consequences can cause us suffering what about other bad things that happen to us like death, a life altering accident, a sick child, cancer, etc? Pain and suffering are as much a part of life as sunrise and sunsets.

Our hardships are not punishments from God. They are opportunities to experience God's power to help. God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill his plan for us. He sees the big picture. This time we are on earth is like a second compared to eternity so what is a second of suffering for eternity in joy?!

There is a saying, "the greater your cares, the greater your prayers." Look back on your life. When things were not going well you probably prayed more. The more serious the situation, the more serious you prayed. "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction." Job 36:15 The testing of our faith develops perseverance. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3 If we do not experience the bad times we could never appreciate the good times.

One of my favorite verses is Romans 8: 28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This means that God will bring good from bad. He will use these trials to fulfill His purpose! God does not waste the pain. Through bad experiences God brings long-range good to us.

Thank God for a time of suffering that brought long-range good to you!