Reason #5

Obviously follow through isn't my greatest strength, but I am working on it! I really got a lot of great feed back on my posts about 21 Reasons Bad Things Happen to Good People and then I lost steam and quit posting them. I am embarrassed to say that I only made it to reason #4. BUT, I am here to try and remedy that problem! 

 
Reason #5: To Produce Greater Intimacy With God
Job 42:5


Early points out that when bad things happen to other people we struggle with theoretical "problems of evil" and wonder "Why bad things happen to good people?" However, when the hurt is more personal, the questions become more personal. We begin to wonder:


• Does God really care when bad things happen to me?
• Does He still love me?
• Does He even see what I am going through?
• Has God somehow forgotten me?
• Does He have ANY idea how much I hurt?


The answer is YES!! Read and understand these sentences. Really meditate on them and let them permeate into your heart.


• God does care when bad things happen to YOU.
• He still loves you.
• He sees and feels your pain.
• He has NOT forgotten you.
• He knows more about suffering than you can imagine


Remember, Jesus Knows Suffering


Read the description, from Isaiah, of Jesus' suffering. Notice the intesity, variety and magnitude.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed...He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter...By oppression and judgement he was taken away.  And who can speak of descendants?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken....Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer...After the suffering of his soul, he will see the lifht of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.  ISAIAH 53;3-11

Can you think of anything that you are experiencing that Jesus has not experienced? "infirmities, sorrows, stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, crushed, punishment, wounds, oppressed, afflicted, slaughter, oppression, cut off, stricken, crush, suffer, and suffering of his soul" I think that Jesus has it covered. The only blameless One, the ONLY one who did not deserve to suffer...HE knows suffering. The Bible says of Jesus' suffering:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.              HEBREWS 4: 15-16

My Eyes Have Seen You
Early speaks directly to me (and many of the baby loss parents) and says, "Possibly nothing is as difficult for a parent as burying his or her child. Imagine--Job buried ten children at the same time. His heart was cruelly crushed by his immense grief. Yet, instead of lying in the dust and crying for himself, Job cried out to God." Early is right, burying a child is heart breaking and changes you as a person. But I did find that the ONLY thing I could do was reach out to God after we buried Ella Grace. Like I have often said, I am NO Job. My faith isn't nearly as strong as his...I would NEVER claim for it to be! But, I have bared my soul to God (like Job) and it wasn't always so pretty. I have yelled at God and for God and to God. I have questioned God and pleaded with God. I have cried out to God. I have screamed ANGRY, ugly words to God. But I have NOT let my pain push me away from God (like Job). Early says that Job let his pain push Job to God and that although it was immediate, God came to Job in "power, provision, affirmation, and ultimately blessing."


Job found that God's goal in allowing his suffering was not a revelation of a rationale for his agony, but a revelation of GOD Himself. Isn't that amazing? God revealed more of himself to Job through Job's suffering. Job got a "tour of His person and His power" instead of a list of explanations for why he had to go through all of the trials. Job wrote, "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." Job 42:5


Job went from a second hand faith to a firsthand RELATIONSHIP with his God through his suffering.


Often we are too busy to see what's going on around us, but when we are hurting, pain puts blinders on us and we are forced to look at (or to) God. To really see him...that's when He can reveal himself to us.


David spoke this promise: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." PSALM 34:18


Early gives us 4 truths:


1. God does not abandon us when we suffer, although it often feels as if He does. No. He has been with us, and is always with us. But He is closest to us when we hurt.


2. The presence of hardship does not mark the absence of God. A broken heart is irresistible to Him. God comes to the brokenhearted because He cannot help Himself. A crushed spirit is a magnet drawing Him close


3. God does not promise to protect us from all problems, but He does promise to be with us through our problems.


4. It is really up to you. Adversity will either come between you and God or it will push you closer to God, but it is YOUR choice!


Why?


So why does God let bad things happen to good people? One reason is that because we experience the nearness of Him more often in the trials than the triumph. God is near the brokenhearted. He desires companionship with us and draws near to us when we choose to let the pain bring us to Him.




P.S. You can see the first 4 reasons here!  Jesus understand our sufferings and because of this he is incredible approachable! This should be another reminder that our God desperately desires and intimate relationship with us.