Have you ever gone through a trial or difficult season and asked, “Why me? Why am I going through this?” I think we all have at one time or another. Sometimes we can easily identify the root cause of troubles when they come. But sometimes we simply don’t have good answers for why bad things happen. We can’t seem to see how the Lord is working through those hard times. (But we can be sure that He is working!)
When the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, even with all the miracles the Lord wrought on their behalf, it was not always easy for them. But God had a purpose for some of the trials they faced. Look in Deuteronomy 8:2-6.
And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna…that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD…You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
After reading this verse, I asked a wise friend, “Why would God need to test us to know what is in our hearts? Doesn’t He already know us even better than we know ourselves? Is there anything in our hearts that can possibly be hidden from the Lord?” And her response was eye-opening for me, “Yes, God knows every secret of our hearts, but He tests us so that WE will know what is in our hearts.”
The Lord is faithful to meet all our needs. He feeds us and clothes us and provides shelter for us. He always does everything for our good. But sometimes He also tests us to help us learn how to trust Him more and to show us what we need to work on and to teach us how to fear Him and walk in His ways. We like to imagine how well we would react if a trial or test came our way, but even in our best efforts we often do not respond as we thought we would. I can’t count the times I have caved under pressure to do the right thing and ended up failing miserably and running back to my Heavenly Father in shame to ask for forgiveness again and again. But He never points His finger at us and says, “I told you so!” No, He lovingly takes us into His arms and forgives us and tenderly restores us and encourages us to obey Him in all His directions. He shows us our weaknesses so we can understand how we can improve in our walk with Him.
Though the trials are not pleasant, they also are for our benefit. And when we humble ourselves and submit to His will, He never withholds any of His good blessings from us. This He also promised the Israelites just a few verses later in Deuteronomy 8:7-10.
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land…a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing…When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
Interestingly, because of this verse, many Jewish people even today will say a prayer of grace not before but after they finish a meal. And when we are blessed and satisfied with all the good things He fills our life with, we too should not forget to bless His name.
Let’s bless the Lord today not only for all His blessings, but also for what He is trying to teach us during our trials. And may we feel a peace in knowing that He is with us through both the good times and the bad.
–dmrf