I receive many emails each week from both women and men trying to understand why God has allowed some tragedy to enter their lives. What they’re really asking is this. Does God really love me? Does He really care about my situation?
Yes, my friend, God loves and cares for you. I don’t know why God allows some to get sick and others to lose their jobs or loved ones, but I do know that God promises to work it out for our good. (Romans 8:28). That’s hope we can hold on to.
When God created heaven and earth, He said everything was “good.” Then, sin entered in. As a result, you and I live in a fallen, sick world. Disease, war, abuse, fear, additions, and death were never a part of God’s original blue print. When we suffer, God cares. When our heart is breaking, so is his. God longs to care for you today. He wants to comfort you with His presence.
Instead of running to Him, most of us run from God. Why—because we tend to think of suffering as some sort of sign that God doesn’t care. Nothing is further from the truth. Let these following verses sink into your heart:
Perfect love cast out fear. 1 John 4:18
Nothing can separate you from my love. Not trouble, not sin, Romans: 8:39
I have loved you with an everlasting love. His love for you is unending. Jer 31:3
Love never fails. God can do all things, but fail you. I cor 13:8
He will rest in his love for you and joy over you with singing. You are his joy and delight Zep 3:17
His loving kindness is better than life itself. Nothing in this world compares to God’s love. Pa 63:5
My love and kindness will not depart from you. It’s not conditional, it will never change. Isa 54:10
He has loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus paid it all. Rev 1:5
For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God demonstrated his own love for us in this; While we were yet sinners Christ dies for you. Romans 5:8
We should never judge God’s love for us by our circumstances but by the cross where he died for us.
In the book of James, we see that our pain has a purpose. It’s to make us more like Jesus. I admit it. I want to be perfect, complete and lacking in nothing but I don’t want to go through a trial to get there. Yet, this is how God works. Suffering is God’s greatest tool for growing us up spiritually. I’m sure I could have thought of a better way to grow than through adversity, but God didn’t ask me.
James also states that we can experience joy in the midst of our trail when we look ahead to the end result. God is not out to cause us undue pain. His goal is to make us all He created us to be.
I’ve learned over the years that God is trustworthy. Looking back over my own hardships, I see how God used them to make me strong in faith. While I still have much growing room left, the evidence of a stronger faith can be seen in my life.
The evidence of a growing faith in God includes:
• an increasing desire to know the Lord on an intimate basis.
• a desire to obey God that supersedes the need to fulfill personal desires.
• repentance the moment we become aware of sin. When we have a passion for God, acts of disobedience will hurt our hearts because we know they hurt the heart of God.
• a growing passion to live for Christ. It is this passion that motivates us to love and worship Him.
• a desire to seek the Lord’s will for our lives instead of rushing to do what we “think” is right or predictable in a situation.
• a loving acceptance for God’s desired plan for our lives. Acceptance in this area may include a season of waiting for God to reveal His will to us.
God never promised us a life without trouble. He did promise to bring good out of every situation. When we recognize this promise, it will give so a sense of peace and stability until the trial has passed.
I know that many of you today are facing some kind of pain, therefore, I’m giving away a copy of my book, An Untroubled Heart. Leave a comment along with your email address for a chance to win. Be sure and check back tomorrow to see if you’re the winner. Good Luck!
Faith says
Dear Micca,
Your insightful messages always remind me to look to God in time of trouble and to remember that He loves me and will see me through. Thank you for your ministry.
ARTHINGTON ADVERTISING says
This was exactly the encouragement I needed this morning. Today marks 7 weeks since my husband of 10 years walked out on me and our 2 girls ages 6 and 3. I have experienced such amazing strength through the Lord and already see the evidence of "refining" in me that could only happen through an experience like the one I'm walking through. I have a long journey ahead but am confident that His glory will be revealed through my suffering.
Susie says
THANK YOU!! This was great!! My husband and I have gone through so much during the past 3 years from many deaths, his parents being in a major car accident, to heath issues and now to cuts in pay and hours at work. But the one thing that has gotten us both through all of this is knowing that God is on our side and that He has continued to provide for ALL OF US!! We have seen so many blessings that have come from this and the only thing that we can say is that God is totally in control. There are days that we do feel overwhelmed and we aren't up for the fight that we need to put one foot infront of the other but then some how the Lord does it for us. What an Awesome God we serve!! My prayer is that my children, 3 and 6 will grow to serve Him!! And see and learn from what we have gone through because the strength that we have experienced is like no other. And our relationship with each other is so much stronger than I ever thought it could be AND our relationship with the Lord is incredible. So Thank YOU again for ALL YOU DO!!!
Carrie says
My husband and I continue to fight our battles. Only this time, I'm trying to stand tall instead of crumbling under the pressure. I pray for strength daily to provide the support he needs from me like he has shown to me in the past year when I've been at my weakest.
Ming says
I am a Chinese and love to read the daily devotion provided by WAVA. I have experienced God's grace and love for all the years in my single mother's life. Thanks for the helping articles.
My email is WuMing1128@gmail.com.
Maureen Wu
Dana says
Micca,
I NEEDED THAT!!! Thank you for your obedience. God Bless.
Betsy says
Thank you so much for your insight and encouragement today! I have been experiencing a lot of physical difficulties this year and haven't been a all good about giving God the glory for this suffering. Thanks for the reminder that this is refining me for His glory if I let it! May God bless your ministry!
byquiltn1@gmail.com
Nicole says
I am so glad I found you! Although my troubles are minor in comparison to so many, I most certainly do look inward and wonder "why?" You have helped me, this morning, to remember some very important things. I also plan to have my two teenagers read this devotional this evening, and discuss it with them. We are going through some things and I have been struggling with how to talk about it with them. This will give us a great starting point. Thank you!
Blessings.
Kim says
It amazes me how I am given the message God has intended for me to hear to work through my current situation right when I need it. My husband and I are both unemployed, and are seeking God's plan for us. We have family in two separate locations from where we live, and are debating whether we should move near his parents, my family, or stay where we are. We continue to pray for guidance, and seek our new path.
Mathew Idikula says
great one! praise God!
pat says
Thank you Micca for your wisdom on this matter of suffering. I had to learn to get out of my self-pity. With prayer, many breakthroughs have occurred. Our marriage has improved through this journey we are going through. I have a new perspective, which I trust is coinciding with the will of God. I pray for these other commenters today who are on their own special journeys.
Pat rom28@verizon.net
Debbie says
Funny how God works…
I get the daily devotional and it really hit home this morning, so I decided to click on your blog and it was just what I needed!
My 2 year old son was diagnosed with a catastrophic seizure disorder at 4 months old. His seizures were a symptom of a greater cause which was diagnosed last year as Mitochondrial Disease, a disease which there is no cure for. Needless to day it has been a painful 2 years. This morning as I showered I started that "stinkin thinkin" …am I such a bad person that God is punishing me? I must deserve this, certainly my son doesn't? Anyways. the dialogue went on and on, back and forth, because deep down I know God loves his people, this is not a punishment! So, I truly feel God spoke to me through you and your blog this morning!
Thanks and Blessings to you!
Sandi says
I would agree that we don't always understand hard things when we go through them. Look at Job, he was a faithful, trusted servant of God, the only reason he suffered the way he did was because we live in a fallen world where Satan, our enemy, still has a measure of control. God's kingdom hasn't fully come yet, it's partially come, through Jesus, his death and resurrection. One day we will see it in it's fullness when he returns for his bride, the church. Sometimes even now we see it…that's what the blind man's healing was, Jesus' kingdom breaking into ours although it's not yet fully revealed all the time. It was revealed in that man's healing. He didn't learn about Jesus, he experienced Jesus. That's the point of the story, that Jesus wants to break in and change our lives. That man's life was radically changed by Jesus through his healing. Think of how the whole village would've been affected, having known this blind man his whole life, then seeing him given his vision. HE COULD SEE!! Imagine how this affected everything. So I would encourage everyone to not just take in knowledge of Jesus, which is our western mindset but to experience him. He wants to break through with His kingdom into our lives on a daily basis, we need to ask for it, then watch for it.
Sandy Cooper says
Micca,
Great P31 devo today. I lost my son 11 years ago and I echo everything you've said.
Blessings,
Sandy
jonsandy@bellsouth.net
Life, or Something Like It says
Love your writing! Would love to win your book.
csierra says
Miss Micca,
thank you so much for todays devotional. I have been asking why for the past 12 months I have tried to make up excuses or assumptions to try to fit the pieces together and still no luck. I am a single mother of 4 angels (10yrs, 8yrs, 5yrs, and 5mo). Each day is a struggle for me and i try so hard to turn to God but often times I let the negative take over. I want to be the best mom I can and sometimes it just seems impossible. I just want to thank you for your devotional.
Have a Blessed Day!
Christine
LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious says
Thank you Micca for your timely words! "Choose not to look in the review mirror today" are the words I needed to hear. I tend to naturaly do that and don't know why, since my Lord has always been faithful and trustworthy.
Looking forward to all He has planned,
Lee Ann
encouragement-is-contagious.blogspot.com/
Smile says
I really enjoyed this devotion today. You have a great way of sharing the Scripture.
Geralynn.Baxter@gmail.com
Sources of Joy says
It really is tempting to ask "why?" And yet I count my very young children blessed to be growing up in and born into a home where trials are refining their mommy & daddy, and where God's glory is our ultimate goal. The road has been exhausting and full of pain and sacrifice, but also full of so much joy and growth in Christ! Thank you for your sweet words that are like honey the the souls of many.
Becky Avella says
Thank you so much for the chance to win this, Micca. It seems like I am never going to win sometimes in the battle against fear. I can't wait to read your book.
I'm praying for you today and that God will give you the strength you need right now as you battle your illness.
Love,
Becky
Carol says
Thank you so much for this message today. I have allways believed that God works in us more when we are suffering then when life is a smooth and easy road. I lost my daughter 5 yrs ago to a sudden death from a flaw in her heart muscle that was undetectable. She was 33yrs, and healthy but dropped in the middle of a store in Maine when coming home from a holiday on the east coast. For the last 5 yrs our granddaughter lived with her stepfather who developed his drinking into a true alcoholism. She was back and forth to our house and home due to heavy drinking binges. On August 31st he took his own life. Many people were trying to help him inclouding friends, family and professionals but in the end, he just couldn't continue to livem without our daughter. Our granddaughter, Carley, now 16yrs, will live the rest of her time with us. We have good rappore with her and of course love her very much. So you see I have endured lots of suffering. None of this is easy but I know God is with me and His purpose in my life is still happening. I have a very supportive church community who walk their talk and hold me up in prayer. I was a nurse all my working days and 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 were the verses I kept close to my heart that the Lord revealed to me 35 yrs ago when I was taken to hospital for emergency surgery on the week I needed to write my provincial registration exam and graduation too. It has definately played out in my life of caring for the suffering in so many ways. I quicly became a compassionate soul that helped me comfort others. God Bess you in this ministry. Carol
Monica says
Dear Micca,
I could barely finish reading your devotional today through the tears. As others have shared, this came at a time when I needed it most especially the prayer. It pierced my heart. I am in the darkest night of my soul. I have lost everything I have ever loved and held dear-my bestfriend and my church of 13 years. Not being married, or having children or family, they were everything to me. But now they are gone and all because of my own doing. I feel like I have hurt so many people because of my unmet needs/expectations and the behaviors that come from them. I know I need people too much and God not enough but I can't seem to turn that around. I see others here on this blog still able to trust God and praise Him in the suffering yet I feel so abandoned by Him and have lost hope that I will ever be the person He created me to be. My life is filled with regret and I don't know how to fix what I have broken. All I know is I would give anything to have a heart that trusts Him and His love for me. Thank you for your ministry Micca. You were a little ray of Sonshine peeking through my clouds today.
Kenna says
Micca,
How I love your message today. I pray the Lord takes it to every woman who has been running from God, afraid to run to God because she fears in some way she has done wrong, has disappointed God, has not done the right things or lived the right way. I have been there and know the TRUTH and POWER in the Scriptures you shared. Thank you for sharing God's Word…the only way to perfect wholeness and healing.
Love you so much, sweet friend!!!
Wendy
Allison says
I just wanted to tell you that I loved this devotion today. My husband lost his job on my first day of graduate school for clinical counseling. I am going to school to be a Christian Counselor. I know that this is for His Glory and I will praise Him in this storm.
His faithfulness never fails.
In Christ Alone,
Allison
Beatrice says
Dear Micca,
Your encouragement reminds me to always look to GOD. He is waiting for us to go to him and ready to answer our prayer request. Thank you for your ministry.
Colleen says
Micca,
This was truly an inspirational post! I have been trying to live through the belief that God is in our suffering. I got the cancer diagnosis in February, and I'm still dealing with it. A Christian relative gave me the most wonderful truth: that through our suffering, we are drawn even closer to Christ; and that somehow our suffering can unite with His, and we can join in the salvation of the world! These words changed my life, and how I view my trials and suffering. I know that somehow God will be glorified through my circumstance. If He brings me to it, he'll bring me thru it! And if I give it all to Him, I will know His peace. Praise be to God!
Colleen
Bev Martin says
Hi Micca – Your messages have helped me out today. They have given me strength & inspiration. I have gone through some trials this year with the passing of my mom and going through breast cancer. My growing faith has helped me tremendously.