Why? Equipping Through Our Suffering

There are some who are living outside a relationship with Jesus Christ that would look into the life of a Christian and ask, "Why would God allow suffering in your life?" Sometimes the assumption is made that if "your God" is really who you say he is, he wouldn't allow anything negative to happen in your life. 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you know that the reality of life in Christ is much different.  God never promises smooth sailing.  In fact, we know from scripture that the path of obedience to Christ is a challenging path to travel, but one that we can do because of the strength that God gives us through our obedience to Jesus.

In the opening sentences of Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he talks about the comfort that God gives us.  Paul says that "God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." Paul goes on to say that God comforts us "so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT).

In these few sentences, we find a great truth wrapped up for us to embrace. God does provide us with comfort. It is through his incredible mercy and love for us that we are the grateful recipients of his comfort. Notice that it doesn't say we are the recipients of a worry free life; rather, in the midst of the trials that life will surely bring, we are comforted by our Father God.

God provides us with comfort because he loves us, but also because he is equipping us to do the same for the world around us. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we are tasked with bringing comfort to a world that has no comfort.  We are tasked with bringing love to a world that has no love.  This is why God does for us, so that we can do for others.

Next time you are asking yourself, "Why am I dealing with this?", lean deep into the arms of Jesus and rest in his comfort and know that God is preparing you to do the same for someone else soon.