Sometimes it seems like the world is coming down on us. It's easy to feel stressed, defeated, hopeless, and to complain that life is so unfair. It's easy to doubt that God cares, or even exists, when trials and tribulations come. Why would a loving God allow anyone to suffer?
We hope for blessings, healing and miraculous solutions. We pray to the same Almighty God who mankind has defied since generation one. He's the same God, who watches millions ignore him, mock him, or worship false gods. He's the same God who watched HIS SON crucified on the cross at the hands of people like us, and the same God who could have ended it all at any time, but still continues to provide sunshine and rain for all - yet we expect his mercy.
Would you be so merciful? Today, justice is the standard. People hardly have mercy on anyone, much less those who have betrayed them. People are often quick to anger and slow to forgive, and don't read the Scriptures enough to know what God has done for them. Hearts grow colder and colder without it. People are increasingly more evil, selfish, vain, frivolous, and less interested in being fair, helpful, charitable, or kind. As a result, the world is a hard place to live.
When challenging situations arise, or things seem unfair, these are the things I think of. When a precious child dies, I think of how hard it must have been for God to watch his only begotten son, suffer so greatly. The Son of God could have arrived on a golden throne inlaid with diamonds and the most precious gems. He could lived in a palace and forced us all to bow down at his feet and serve his every desire. He could have struck dead anyone that opposed or offended him. He could have ended it all at any moment. Instead, he died for us. What KING would do that his subjects? Only one - Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, Yahushua Messiah. And only one Father would allow it, Yahweh, God - the one and only.
You see, God did not intend for people to die. It was when Adam and Eve sinned that death was brought into the world. (See 1 Corinthians 15). The laws of the universe had been set in place, and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Corruption cannot enter into God's Kingdom. But Jesus, the incorrupt, was killed and resurrected, and therefore conquered death. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (1 Cor 15:17).
Instead of living in luxury, Jesus humbled himself. "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:7-11).
Why does any of us deserve better than what Jesus had? Why should God answer our prayers so we suffer less? Why should we expect his protection? If you don't even believe in him, first of all, you shouldn't. But if you are a believer going through tribulations, how great is that tribulation? Is it worse than being nailed to a cross?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:57)