Blessing in Disguise
READ: Romans 11:33-36
Mark had a horrible week. On Monday, he got his report card. And when he opened it, the first grades that he saw were two Fs. His parents saw the report card and grounded him for two weeks, which he thought was totally unfair. Since it was basketball season, he had to sit out until he raised his grades. Then, on Saturday, he wasn't paying attention at a busy intersection and got into a car accident. He broke his leg and had some minor cuts and bruises. Could things possibly get any worse for him?
The phrase that might come to your mind when you hear that little story could be, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" First of all, we must realize that we're not good people. Nothing we have done or ever will do is good because we are completely sinful. When bad things happen to us, it might feel like God is not there or is punishing us. However, in this text from Romans, Paul says, "How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out? 'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" Man cannot figure out what God's plan is for him using his simple human reason. We cannot understand why bad things happen to us and what Good can possibly come out of it. With our tiny human reasoning, we can't help but question God.
But who are we to place God under obligations? In verse 35 of the text, it reads, "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" We don't deserve anything from God. Yet God loved us so much that he gave us life, sent us Jesus, and continues to guide, protect, and bless us every day.
Yes, troubles in our lives are truly blessings in disguise. They may seem terrible at the time and make us wonder how God could let that happen to us. God allows bad things to happen to us because he loves us and wants us to rely fully on him. In time we'll see why we had to go through those rough times, and maybe we'll even appreciate it.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How have you dealt with problems in your life? What things have happened in your life that has made you angry with God? When have you ever been through a rough time and later realized what good came out of it?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Pray for forgiveness when you think you know better than God. Pray for comfort when you are dealing with problems in your life. Thank God that he never gives you more than you can handle.