Why Do We Have to Suffer?
Richard Bradley
Genesis 50:19-21
19 Joseph said to them, ''Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.'' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. NKJV
We all know that occasionally bad things happen to good people. Of course bad things happen to everyone both good and bad. However, we don't usually notice that. More often than not we're only aware of what happens to us or people like us. Jesus warned His disciples that both good and bad things happen to those who are both good and bad (Matthew 5:45). Regardless, we would never be able to tabulate the number of times we believers have asked the question, ''Why do I have to suffer like this?'' The only thing I can tell you is, sometimes there's a reason for your suffering and occasionally is not as bad as you think.
We all know today's story because it's one of the Bible's most popular. Joseph's brothers sold him to a caravan of traders who then sold him into slavery in Egypt. What could possibly be good about that? Through a complicated chain of events only God could orchestrate, Joseph became Pharaoh's right hand man and, with God's help, saved the whole nation, as well as his own family, from starvation. Joseph and his brothers were eventually reunited and it's then that we discover the explanation for his suffering; ''God meant it for good.''
We'll not always know the why of our suffering. On the other hand, sometimes there is a silver lining behind our suffering. If suffering must be our lot then look for the good. It just might be there. God can and does bring good from bad.
GOD BRINGS GOOD FROM BAD
BY OVERRULING THE INTENTIONS OF EVIL
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it ...
Richard Bradley
Genesis 50:19-21
19 Joseph said to them, ''Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.'' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. NKJV
We all know that occasionally bad things happen to good people. Of course bad things happen to everyone both good and bad. However, we don't usually notice that. More often than not we're only aware of what happens to us or people like us. Jesus warned His disciples that both good and bad things happen to those who are both good and bad (Matthew 5:45). Regardless, we would never be able to tabulate the number of times we believers have asked the question, ''Why do I have to suffer like this?'' The only thing I can tell you is, sometimes there's a reason for your suffering and occasionally is not as bad as you think.
We all know today's story because it's one of the Bible's most popular. Joseph's brothers sold him to a caravan of traders who then sold him into slavery in Egypt. What could possibly be good about that? Through a complicated chain of events only God could orchestrate, Joseph became Pharaoh's right hand man and, with God's help, saved the whole nation, as well as his own family, from starvation. Joseph and his brothers were eventually reunited and it's then that we discover the explanation for his suffering; ''God meant it for good.''
We'll not always know the why of our suffering. On the other hand, sometimes there is a silver lining behind our suffering. If suffering must be our lot then look for the good. It just might be there. God can and does bring good from bad.
GOD BRINGS GOOD FROM BAD
BY OVERRULING THE INTENTIONS OF EVIL
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it ...
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