“Everything happens for a reason.” I’ve said this time and time again to many people, but not every reaction is the same. Some agree with me, while others scoff at my ‘ignorance.’ Except that it isn’t ignorance, is it? It’s not. Not to me. I believe everything happens for a reason. I know people who don’t like hearing this and don’t agree with it, and you know what? That’s okay. They might not believe that everything happens for a reason, but I do. And here’s why.
I have been through my fair share of hard times and heartbreaks. I’ve been broken and desperate and hurting. I’ve gone through the loss of loved ones and the challenges of finding out some ‘friends’ were not who I thought they were. But I’ve also been blessed with an amazing family and friends who are constantly there, swimming in the Word of God. I’ve praised Him so many times over for so many wonderful things, but also for so many terrible things as well. I’ve been put (or gotten myself) into less than wonderful situations and I’ve been hurt in those times. I went through depression for six extremely long months but found redemption and freedom in God.
As I was sitting on my bed one night, doing devotions, house to myself, I traveled back in my mind to one situation that just would not leave my heart. It had been tugging at me, telling me that I had not been forgiven, that I was not worthy of forgiveness. This was from the enemy. I had been battling with these thoughts of unforgiveness (I’m making it a word if it’s not already) and thoughts of depression. For part of those six months, I wanted it to all go away. I didn’t necessarily have any suicidal thoughts, but I wanted to go Home. I couldn’t see my purpose here. I couldn’t see the plan that God had going for me. I couldn’t see it. But that night in August, opening myself up to those deep, dark thoughts, I voiced aloud what God had been trying to tell me all this time: “The enemy has no control.” The enemy did not deserve any part of me, so why was I letting him control my thoughts, telling me I wasn’t good enough, telling me I wasn’t worthy enough? Why was I allowing him to make me believe I wasn’t forgiven? I remember laugh-crying as I sat there, letting God heal me from depression as I went running back into His waiting arms.
I firmly believe that God allowed me to go through my depression for a reason. I believe God allowed me to feel that deep, suffering pain that I was struggling with for a reason. Why? It’s kind of simple when you look at it: my relationship with Him is so much stronger today than it has ever been in my life. I firmly believe that each and every single thing in my life has happened for a reason. Every heartbreak, every stone thrown—it’s been for a reason. It has made my faith stronger and has made me into the person I am today. I’m not done cooking, of course. I know there are still going to be trying times ahead and a lot more pain, but I know that I can get through it because I have the Savior holding my feet.
I do want to clarify something here, though, for those who just don’t know it or need a reminder. God does not make anything bad happen to you. God does not inflict pain upon you. He may allow it to happen, but He does not make it happen. Often the question is, why does God allow suffering? In Dear Jesus by Sarah Young, Jesus tells us, "I've allowed suffering in your life so that you can learn to trust Me more." Following Christ and leaning on faith is part of free will. God does not force us to follow Him, He does not force us to love Him, and He does not force us to accept that He is the Savior. This is all part of free will.
It's often stated that 'If God's real or all-powerful why doesn't He [fill in the blank with whatever the person wants God to do].' For example, 'why doesn't God give us proof He's real? Why doesn't God make us believe?' Again, this is part of free will. God will not force you to believe in Him. He is a God of love, not force. He is our Father. And yes, while sometimes our parents make us do the dishes or make us do the laundry, our parents do not make us love them or make us believe in them. That's up to us.
God allows us to suffer so we can lean on Him and find refuge in Him. When we suffer, we have to trust that God knows what He's doing and that He's going to get us through this (whatever 'this' may be). And the truth of the matter is this: God does know what He's doing. He always does. Very often we cannot see where He's going with His plan or why He's going that way, but I can tell you (from experience) that God has an extraordinary reason for it.
God may not be answering your prayer in the way you want Him to because He has something better for you. He can see your future and He knows what's best for you. We have to trust that God has the best for us. Because He does.
