God in the Suffering

He has plans for us. Plans for a future, to prosper us and not to harm us.

August 17

I had the best conversation with a friend today. She had messaged me this morning and asked about my son-in-law’s family. She knew his grandfather had COVID and was not doing well. I started to message her back and realized it would be easier to just talk to her. I let her know that unfortunately, Pepo had died, but the rest of the family was fine. We hadn’t seen each other in a couple of weeks so we started to catch up. We talked about some of the things God has been showing each of us. I had encouraged her to read one of my favorite books, Redeeming Love. She agreed, so I read it again too. Each time I read this book I get a little something new out of it. Since it is the story of Hosea from the Bible, it’s easy to have God speak to you as you read it. It is the story of a prostitute who keeps running away from her husband who loves her. Each time I have read this story I am frustrated with how many times she runs away. I am saddened by how long it takes for healing to come. I am dismayed by circumstances that I wish could have been stopped by God. As I read this time, for the first time I could see God’s purpose in the delays and the suffering. God is always at work, especially in the suffering. God allows whatever needs to happen so we can fully be His. So we can be whole. Jesus didn’t die on the cross simply so we could join Him in Heaven. Yes, that is part of it. He came to set the captives free from bondage. He came to heal the brokenhearted. He came to give us power over the enemy. I am so grateful for all He has done in my life. I still long for the easy way, the pain-free way. But my perspective has changed. He knows the plans He has for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future.