When bad things happen, I used to question why. Was there something in me that deserved this bad experience? Was this God’s loving discipline? Was there something I needed to learn before all the bad goes away?

After quite a few of hardship, I believe I’m finally learning that sometimes there is just not a “why”.  He blesses the righteous and the evil. He allows hardship on the good and the bad.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45

Sure, we may “need” to learn something through hardship. But even if we don’t need to be taught a lesson, we learn to have faith, trust, perseverance, and joy…yes, joy! When we can look at these times with trust in the One who made us and loves us, we can find the joy that will get us through. He will send blessing, big and small, to encourage you in the dark times.

Sometimes we are not in need of more lessons from God…we are just being attacked by the evil one. Look at Job! He wasn’t perfect, but Satan wanted to show God that when all of the good things in Job’s life were taken away, he would curse God. And what about the prophets? Many of them were persecuted and ridiculed while they were just doing the Lord’s work.

The evil one is out to destroy God’s mission in this world, plain and simple. What better way than to discourage God’s people?

⁹ “Does Job fear God for nothing?”<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(Y)”> Satan replied. ¹⁰ “Have you not put a hedge<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(Z)”> around him and his household and everything he has?<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(AA)”> You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(AB)”> ¹¹ But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(AC)”> and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:9-11

Well, I’m not going to let God down. Even in the midst of a home robbery, car problems, and plumbing problems (yes, the bathroom that took 7 weeks to remodel last year is leaking and has to be torn out and redone next week!), I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(A)”>bless the Lord at all times;
His <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(B)”>praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

I praise God for His unbelievable power! I lift up His name because of the awesome God He is. And I thank Him for the beautiful family and friends that He has sent to love on me and my family during difficult times.

And really…we have such an awesome life! People across the world face death every day. People are persecuted every day! I live in a land where the norm is to have more than one car, smart phones, and 3 meals every day. I am in the top 2% on the “wealthy” scale in the world!!!

Yes, I have a great life.

What are you praising God in the midst of today?