“What is God doing to me?”

Sunday, July 02, 2017

Nothing can be more frustrating and confusing to a Christian than when bad things happen and they want to know why. They might wonder if God is trying to teach them something.

• Is our God responsible for everything in our lives?
• Is there a reason for everything?
• Has everything been predetermined?

Let’s see what answers God’s word contains about these ideas.

Consider what Jesus said in Luke 13:4. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?”  The Savior brought this up because some incorrectly argued that the tower fell on certain people as a punishment for their actions. That was not the case, and accidents can happen.

Let’s stop and think about the families of those eighteen that died. Imagine their hardships. What if they held to the same notions as those Jesus was talking to? They would be trying to find a deeper meaning to this event and might wonder why God did it to them.

However, our Father is not responsible for any temptations that we face. “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone,” (James 1:13). However, this does not mean that our Creator is not in control. Because God has total control, he can allow certain things to happen. Jesus’ earthly life is the best example of this.

Jesus told Pilate that he could do nothing unless it had been given to Him from above (John 19:11). So was the Father responsible for the death of His Son? Of course not. There is a big difference in what God allows and what He approves of or makes happen.

Our world includes elements of chance. For example, tornados sometimes occur due to weather patterns. If a family loses a loved one, it was not anyone’s fault. It certainly was not God’s fault either – sometimes things just happen. Consider also when people sin and face hardships because of it. If a man loses his job because of a drinking problem, he might also lose his home. His family might even fall apart. Whose fault is it? We could say it was the result of someone sinning.  If he is married and has children, they should not say, “Why is God doing this to us?” God did not do anything to them.

This leads us to a very important lesson: God can help us cope with any and every temptation that comes our way. As Paul told the Corinthians, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it,” (I Cor. 10:13).

To be clear, this passage is not teaching that God will take away the pain and hardships. The “escape” that was mentioned is God providing a way to not to give in to the temptation. Therefore, it is not a sin to suffer or hurt (unless you are guilty of sinning). If someone uses drugs, is arrested and is put in jail, they are suffering due to their own sinful actions. If that person turns to the Lord while in prison, the Lord can help that person stay the course.

Still, hardship are not immovable. Our adversary (I Pet. 5:8) will continually try to get us to resist God, but those who draw near to God can resist the devil (James. 4:7-8). God’s people can pray for help (James 5:16). By trusting in the providence of God and allowing His will to be done (Matt. 26:39), we can know that the Lord will help us handle whatever comes our way (Phil. 4:13).

Chuck                                                                                      

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