Sometimes I find that shortly after I have read or studied a
particular subject, I am presented with an opportunity to use my newfound
knowledge to help someone. Though this
has happened many times, it surprises me each time it occurs. I am awestruck by God’s perfect timing and
have no doubt that He is in control.
Recently, a friend who had just lost her mother, was
separated from her husband, and is faced with serious health problems herself,
told me that she had been taught that God would not put more on her than she
could bear. She is convinced, though, that
He has done exactly that. Her question:
“Why me?”
I deemed this an “Aha!” moment because, only the day before,
I had delved into a study about why God allows adversity, and was able to share
with my friend some of what I had learned.
The way I understand it, God allows adversity to come upon
us when He wants our attention. If life
is good, we tend to ignore Him. Becoming self-satisfied, we incorrectly think
that if nothing is wrong, everything is right. However, God wants a relationship with His children, just as we long for
a close tie with ours, so when we are so involved with earthly pleasures that
we don’t have time for Him, He sometimes uses adversity to bring us around.
C. S. Lewis wrote in his book, The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks
in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf
world.”
Think about what God did to Saul, who later became the
apostle Paul. As he was traveling to Damascus
to arrest believers, God struck him down with blinding light. Thinking his
blindness was permanent, Saul was now ready to listen to God.
Such is the influence of adversity. When we are preoccupied with our own
interests and desires, we cannot see the need for His involvement in our lives,
but things change quickly when trouble strikes. Challenging times have been known to bring
even the most stubborn of us to our knees.
If God has allowed adversity to befall you, He may be trying
to get your undivided attention. He
wants you to trust Him. He wants you to
talk to Him. He desires a relationship
with you. Seeing all things, perhaps He
knows you are about to make a bad decision and wants to help you avoid it. Whatever your circumstances, rest assured
that God has a purpose for everything He does. He may even have something exciting in store
for you.
Surprisingly, my friend listened to my little sermon with
genuine interest. When I had finished,
she wiped tears from her eyes and said, “Well, He certainly has my attention!”
Photograph courtesy of Jourdan Miller~
Photograph courtesy of Jourdan Miller~
1 comment:
This is so good Peggy. I bet you teach Sunday School don't yoy?
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