While You Are Asking Why

God never promised that we would not go through pain, agony, tragedy, trauma and confusion. BUT, HE DID PROMISE, to go through it all, with us, BECAUSE WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, HIS CREATION! “But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, Jacob, (put your own name there), he who formed you, Israel, (put your own name there), Do not fear, for I have remembered you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze…..Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…” Isaiah 43:1-4. There is always a reason why we are going through what we are going through, but our attitude while we go through, will determine how we come out of our troubles and how our battles will end. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4. While we are asking why, about our tragedy, grief, disappointments, pain and agony, God is using them, if we permit Him to do so, to chasten, sharpen and mould us into a much, much better versions of ourselves - the image of God, Himself. It hurts but the fire needs to burn away the bad roots, the river and the floods have to wash off and carry away what has become rotten within us. So, hang on my brother and my sister, let us allow the trials to do their work in us. Let us have faith, and mature in the fire, rivers and floods, and come out of it as pure gold. It will end, we will heal, and we will better after it, better than the way we got into it. Refined. So while we ask why, in our agony and confusion, let’s not lose hope, but keep our eyes, ears, minds, hearts, spirits, emotions and bodies, set and fixed on God.