I have been going through a testing time this couple of weeks. The year started off well and it seemed like it was going to carry on like that but it didn’t. Things happened and everything is different now. I have some major life changing decisions I have to make. In fact as I look back in my life I see all the hard times I have been through. There were times when there seemed like there was no answer. I had nothing. No plan B, nothing but God! He was all I had and He came through. A few years ago our economy crashed. Food became scarce, inflation sky rocketed, people didn’t know what to do. Imagine going to the supermarket and finding nothing on the shelves! Imagine going to a coffee shop but finding out they didn’t have flour to bake anything? Everything came to a standstill. The average person’s job was to find any place that was selling any kind of food. People had money but couldn’t buy anything! Those were really testing times!!
Just one of the many pictures you would of seen in 2007-2008. No food in the country! But God came through for us!
But even in those very testing times God came through!!! He was there for me. He provided for me and cared for me.
Then there was the time when I had no job. I had no income what so ever and until today I don’t know how I survived. God helped me!
With all that said, why does God allow us to go through hard times and suffering? You may be going through some hard times and wondering the same thing. Well, let us look at the word for the answer.
We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead. And He did it, rescued us from certain doom. And He’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Did you see that? Paul was going through some really trying times even to a point where he thought he was not going to make it. It felt like he was on death row! But as he was going through all that something happened. He saw something! He realized he was supposed to trust God and not in himself. He came to a realization that he was not the answer to his problem, God was!
Is this why God allows us to go through hard times and suffering, so we can trust Him? Does He want us to realize, He is the only One who can save us?
God does not want us relying on our own strength because it’s not enough and because there is only one God and one Savior. Our strength is not strength at all. We are not strong and wise and perfect. We need God.
What is the “take home”then?
God allows us to go through pain and suffering because He wants to show Himself strong. He wants us to come to the realization that our strength is not enough. He does not want us trusting in our own ability! Instead, He wants us to look to Him and trust Him….. God bless
Rolain
kingspeech 
I really love your thought and all is true. He just wants us to look to HIM and trust HIM..Amen.. I am so blessed read your post..:) Blessings to you..
Thanks Karina for the input…..!
It is in the hard times we trust our Heavenly Father, our powerful God, the most. It is then that we develop good character. It is then we should be looking for opportunities to be a blessing to others.
Beautiful post. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Glad things are better now.
Hi Heather.
I like that. In the hard times as we trust God we develop character. And with that character we can bless others!!! Great point….
Wow, that sounds really hard Rolain. It’s such a testament to your faith that you can see the hand of God in it, and witness the way He allows us to have so little sometimes, in order to build our trust. Great word, once again!
Hi Ali.
It was hard I must admit. It was hard to trust God but as I and other believers did, our faith was strengthened….God is good indeed! Thanks Ali. God bless you…
I did hear about all this during my time in Denmark. I imagine it must have been really tough. As James and Paul encourage, “To rejoice in the hard times,” because our joy may be filled, we’ll learn what patience (or endurance) truly is, how that can develop character, which then grows into hope. I’m glad you’ve been molded and shaped into the person you are now as a result of such an experience.
Hey Tari.
Thanks for the insight dude. That really helps…..
Rolain
So much revelation on your post.
God is really amazing in so many ways that we can’t even fathom.
I like it when you say… “We are not strong and wise and perfect. We need God.”
We are not strong enough to face all of these but God has the strength and power to endure and to help us through these. 🙂
Great post! 🙂
Thanks for your comment Julienne! You are right, God is so amazing we cannot even begin to fathom His greatness! I am glad you took away something from this post! God is good indeed….God bless you my friend!
Rolain
Hi Rolain! I’m sorry that you’re going through a hard time but glad to hear how you are trusting in Him. Looking forward to how He comes through for you and how you will encounter Him in a particular way through this. Thanks for sharing, be blessed beyond all you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Hannah
Hannah, thanks for that scripture and word…..It’s encouraging!!! God bless!
Very good point that you wrote here, Rolain. Because as a human life, we couldn’t deny problem that comes in our life. Many times we are on hard situation. So, this post gives me hope and strength. Love it.
I am glad you are encouraged Sella….God does come through for us in the hard and difficult times.
I totally understand this. Sometimes we have to go through the desert to see that God is the Provider, not man. 2 years of unemployment, but God always made a way. It’s a walk in faith!! Blessings to you, my friend.
Thank you.
🙂