At some point in our life, all of us find ourselves asking, or rather demanding the question, “God why would you allow this to happen?” “Why me?” “Why this?” or “Why NOT this?”
I am not attempting to answer the “Why” to those questions, that would be foolish and insensitive of me.
What I do believe though can give us a certain level of peace, is understanding, what God’s desire is for our lives. First off, we acknowledge that we were created to worship God and along that with that God is giving us a gift… if we allow him, he will change us. We will no longer look like ourselves, we will become like God.
We often here the verse quoted when someone is going through a difficult time, “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” (Romans 8:28). It has become the “chin up” verse, “everything will be fine, God is working things out for your good.” The devastating thing is that many of us believe we know exactly what is good for us. That’s what we pray for and ask for and think that we deserve.
What is God’s good for us though? That we pass through life with as little struggle as possible? That we be protected from what is evil and blessed with what is good? What happened to Jesus?
Jesus lived a perfectly obedient life and that obedience led him to a cross… And we are offered the same thing, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24). (That’s a stipulation we might want to clarify next time we give an altar call!)
What is God’s good for us though? That we pass through life with as little struggle as possible? That we be protected from what is evil and blessed with what is good? What happened to Jesus?
Jesus lived a perfectly obedient life and that obedience led him to a cross… And we are offered the same thing, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24). (That’s a stipulation we might want to clarify next time we give an altar call!)
The second part of the verse in Romans gives us a whole new level of understanding.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29).
Those who love God…..those who have been called according to his purpose….those he predestined……
THOSE people….he has decided to conform into the image of his Son.
So God’s GOOD for us is that we would become like his Son, Jesus. And what a priceless gift that is. What greater gift could we be offered by God then to become like God?
Perhaps this is why Paul says in Romans we ought to “glory in our sufferings.” Next time we pray for someone, or ourselves, who is struggling we should consider this. Don’t ask so quickly that that “thing” be added or taken away, because through that struggle comes God likeness.
Perhaps this is why Paul says in Romans we ought to “glory in our sufferings.” Next time we pray for someone, or ourselves, who is struggling we should consider this. Don’t ask so quickly that that “thing” be added or taken away, because through that struggle comes God likeness.
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