God, who foresaw your tribulation, has especially armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain.[1]

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord, who has worked wonders for you. (Joel 2:26)

We all know there are troubles in life. Probably each one of you reading this has had at least your fair share of crises, troubles, and trials. Some of us have had quite a bit more than our share.

 What I decide is fair in life may be something all, or  most all of us could agree with. However, just because you and I, or even every single one of us, agree that something is fair doesn’t guarantee it will be what happens in our life.

Even our Creator does not promise us a trial free life. He does promise us blessing, but we live in a fallen world, an existence that is not perfect by any possible definition. The one thing Christ does promise us is that he will be with us through any trial we may encounter. He will prepare us for the journey. That doesn’t mean an advance warning of death or disease, of financial crisis or vocational disaster, of family bliss and leak free roofs at home.

Advance warning only means we have time to prepare OURSELVES. That isn’t what God promises. He promises HE will prepare you. It may be that the events of yesterday are the fallow ground for God’s work and preparation to be taking root in today.

There are so many events flying at us that we don’t have time to know every aspect of the what and why for each one of them. It is generally best to leave that in God’s hands. Why do we have cancer? I don’t know. Why did our loved one have to die? I don’t know. In fact, it is very likely that, in this life, we won’t be able to come to an answer we can easily accept.  

The memory of the hurt or trial will be a part of our life going forward, but it does not have to define our life from that moment until our life’s end. It does not have to leave a stain. Some of the wonders God works in our life come when we are finally able to see the bigger picture, when we are allowed the behind the scene view and gasp at the wonder and infinite compassion of God’s plan. It is a blessing when we can see it in this life. It is closure when we stand before the throne and worship the one who led us through all things to that very spot.

Craig C. Krueger

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[1] C. S. Lewis