Why These Troubles, Lord?
Questions like "Why did You let this happen to me, God?" and many other similar versions come to our minds easily. Often we become depressed, angry with God and mis-trusting of His goodness and of His promises. I'd like to share with you how one of the Church fathers addressed this question.
This is wise and good counsel from God's Word and Martin Luther's pen, as he comments on Psalm 118:1
The good God permits such small evils to befall us merely in order to arouse us snorers from our deep sleep and to make us recognize, on the other hand, the incomparable and innumerable benefits we still have. He wants us to consider what would happen if He were to withdraw His goodness from us completely. In that spirit Job said (2:10): “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job, you see, knew very well this particular verse; for he said (Job 1:21): “As God wills, so let it be; the name of the Lord be praised.” He did not simply look at the evil, as we would-be saints do; he kept in sight the goodness and grace of the Lord. With this he comforted himself and overcame evil with patience.
We also are to look at our misfortunes in no other way than that with them God gives us a light by which we may see and understand His goodness and kindness in countless other ways. Then we conclude that such small misfortunes are barely a drop of water on a big fire or a little spark in the ocean. Then we understand and love the words: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”
I challenge you today to see your "small evils" and "misfortunes" through this lens of Job, Luther and most importantly, through God's promises and Word.
Heavenly Father, remind us of Your word from Job: "And he [Job] said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Teach us to accept all Your blessed and good gifts, whether taking away or giving, knowing and trusting that You provide all we need, all for our good. AMEN.
Peace to each of you in Christ,
Pastor Mark
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188
mobile: 248.881.7627
Soli Deo Gloria
"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” Psalm 31:24
No comments:
Post a Comment