" ...: For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt. 5:45

We know that during difficult times we turn to God, possibly for answers and always for strength. It is also during these times that our faith, patience and reliance on God will grow as we earnestly strive for a closer relationship with Him. This growth comes through studying His word and through the avenue of prayer. God could work in our lives without our asking...but He knows that, with our asking and receiving, the bond will be greater and our faith will grow.

"...but we glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" Rom. 5:3

We've all known some very special Christian people who've suffered pain and heartaches and we want, again, to ask why. I once heard someone say, "Why not me? Why should I be exempt from anything bad happening to me? I think we must accept whatever life brings us, no matter how difficult it may be. I do not believe we should question God, but rather pray for strength, guidance and comfort. God in all His wisdom knows what's best.

Yet another way to look at this is that God put us here as free moral agents. We're not robots programmed by God without choices. We have the power to choose God and do that which is good or we can choose Satan, the prince of this world, and do that which is evil. As for the young man who did this very evil deed - shooting all those people - it appears that he may have had an evil heart. In addition he seems to have been a very emotionally sick person without the ability to rationally control his actions. It's a shame if he wasn't medically treated for this dangerous disorder... as appears to be the case! I believe it most likely was, for I cannot see how anyone being medically treated could still have this much hate for others or be so evil ... killing so many innocent people!

I believe that in all things there's a purpose but that God allows certain things to happen. From reading the scriptures, we've seen how God dealt with His people, especially when they turned their backs on Him and began to worship idols. Many still have some type of false god ... something they think more of than they do God. Too, many times following something bad, we find something good will happen. God often draws those who are far away from Him closer through tragedies. A very good preacher friend who's quite elderly once told me that he believed God sometimes makes us lie down so we'll look up to Him. I've thought about this many times and believe it to be true.

Unfortunately, sometimes Christians get angry and bitter toward God when something bad happens. They allow Satan to enter their hearts instead of prayerfully seeking a closer relationship with God. Those I've personally known who have done this eventually came back, after they found living without God miserable and empty. They were being eaten up inside with hate and remorse and learned that only true happiness can be found through loving and obeying God.

We must put our full trust and faith in God and live according to His will. We'll never have all the answers to life's problems. Great will be the reward , though, for those who will remain faithful and put their trust in Him to the end.

"....be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10

Ladies Daily Devo. Archives