The Reason

The Reason...


Does God do everything for a reason, or is everything that happens just random? Does God cause bad things to happen, or does He simply allow them?


I used to struggle with these questions, and maybe you did or do as well.  I used to wonder why God would want a little girl to die of cancer at the age of three, why He would kill thousands of people in a hurricane or a tsunami, or why He would make us suffer through the day to day hardships here on Earth.  Then one day it hit me, I was asking the wrong questions; God did not want that little girl to die, or want kill those people, nor does He want us to suffer.  Satan has power on this Earth, power that entangles and traps us while we are living here; he is out to steal, kill and destroy us.  His power here is temporary and he is using it to the best of his abilities while he has it. John 14:30 refers to Satan as the prince of this Earth, that is until the second coming of Christ, when Satan is forever vanquished as it is written in Revelation.  What I am trying to say is, not everything happens for a reason, but it is not completely random either.  God has overall power and is in control, He simply allows and gives reason to everything that happens.  God does not desire for bad things to happen, but while this world has Satan in it and is living in sin (He did grant us free will), Satan berates us with terrible things.  God, in turn, makes good and gives reason and purpose to these bad things.


The good, the reason, is not always easy to see. It is hard to see how the death of a young girl could ever be good; but perhaps the family is able to draw closer and break down walls that had been there for years, or maybe the girl's nurse finds hope and strength in the little girl's determination and will in her battle, maybe that little girl's death saved another's life through organ donation.  God does allow bad things, but He also guarantees reason.  I think of the earthquake in Haiti, why did it have to happen?  Satan is an evil man, but God allowed it and made good from it.  He brought a people together, He caused a stirring in many people's hearts and caused one of the biggest outpourings of assistance, aid, monetary donations, supplies, and volunteers this world has ever seen.  Tell me that is not God giving reason to an initially terrible thing.  Recently, it was hard for me to see why Rollie, a great man of God, had to die when we all wanted him here;  God allowed it, incorporated it into His plan for Rollie's life, and literally changed people through it.  In Rollie's battle, he shared the gospel with many many people, planting the seed in several people's hearts.  And his funeral, a literal celebration of life touched countless lives; this is the reason God gives to things we often see as not right and simply unfair.


Daily Verse:
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:8


God is with us in everything we do and experience, He has gone before us.  The daily verse speaks of these truths.  Terrible things happen, but God will never fail us or abandon us; He will give reason.  He will help us cope, so do not be discouraged or afraid; the Lord who created, died for, redeemed, and saved us has our backs.  He will give reason.


I challenge you to examine your heart. I challenge you to recognize that God loves us and does not desire these bad things to happen to us. I challenge you to look for reason in seemingly dire and terrible situations; He is there, He will see you through.  He will give reason, He will give purpose.