In this life we get to experience not only the happy moments of our lives, we get to experience also the most painful moments that life can offer. From these experiences, we gain knowledge and wisdom to know what is good and bad.

The Bible teaches that many stories were written for us to learn something. Rom 15:4  Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. These scriptures were given to us to develop a godly character like the true image of God. As we know we are all created in His image, but the sins of this world made us unworthy.

The Bible also teaches that being a believer doesn’t mean that we get to live according to the pleasures of this life. We are only temporary settlers and our final destination is not on this life. This life is only a temporary location. So, don’t get too attached with this life or else we end up hanging on a tough situation.

Things do happen in our lives.

Some of them were good.

But most often, bad things do happen. It happens so fast, that we can’t explain why it’s happening.

Some bad things happen in our lives because we failed to know in the beginning that it is indeed bad, or we just neglect it. Bad things will always result to bad products.

Servants of God suffer from trials (painful ones) because they share the sufferings of Christ. 1Pe 4:12  My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you.1Pe 4:13  Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.

Sufferings come because God has a reason. He wants us to learn that the eternal life is not easy to achieve. We have to work hard and endure everything to attain it. 1Pe 1:6  Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. 1Pe 1:7  Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.

With all these things that come to us, the question is “what do we do with what happens to us?”

To rephrase the question, we ask, how do we react with every situation, be it bad or good?

Will we be like Mary who accepted everything in the Lord’s name? Luk 1:38  “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Or will we be like Jonah who eluded God’s command? (Jonah 1:3)

Will we be like Abraham who didn’t question anything but obey God’s words?

Or will we be like Apostle Thomas who doubted God’s manifestations?

Will we be like the Peter who denied Christ three times? (John 13: 38)

Or will we be like Peter who preached about obeying God first before men? (Acts 5:29)

Will we be like Judas Iscariot who sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver?

Or will we be like Judas Thadeus, brother of James who wanted to save others by snatching them out of the fire? (Jude 23)

Will we be like Job, the good servant of God, who never left his faith amidst the sufferings he experienced?

Or will we be like Esau who sold his birthright to Jacob when he felt hunger?

What do we do with what happen to us?

Will we stand up again if we fail?

Will we face the problem and try to ask God for help?

Will we continue to serve God if sufferings come?

Too many questions to answer and yet we are the only one who can answer them?

We can choose to become what God has want us to be.

We can choose to become part of His greater plan, to be with Him as part of His kingdom, in Heaven, where we live and dwell with Him forever. From there we experience no more tears, no more weeping, no more sufferings and hunger and death. From there, we only live to serve Him and praise Him forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 21:1  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the sea vanished.

Rev 21:2  And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband.

Rev 21:3  I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: “Now God’s home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.

Rev 21:4  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.”

Rev 21:5  Then the one who sits on the throne said, “And now I make all things new!” He also said to me, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted.”