WHY GOD do I hurt? WHY am I sick? Why do I suffer?

As I sit here and pen this I am in pain. I deal with many chronic health issues. By the grace of GOD, they are mostly manageable but sometimes, the pain is pretty bad. I look around and see people whom I love and care about deal with illnesses, some curable, some not, and some terminal.

This is a tough one. Having faith through pain or having faith knowing that your end is coming too soon; or at least to us mortals, what is considered too soon can be challenging to say the least. All things and the operative word here is ALL –  
Romans 8:28 states that ALL things work together for the good of GOD for those love HIM. 
Yes, as hard as it may be to swallow, this includes sickness. GOD’s glory is always the ultimate goal. When Abraham was ready to sacrifice the son that he finally received from GOD at a ripe age of 100 after waiting and praying for a child to come; that was for the good of our LORD. Kudos to Abraham, I cannot say I would be able to do that. Forgive me JESUS.

When Joseph was thrown in the pit only to suffer many, many years – this was also GOD’s will and eventually Joseph was made a very important man in history and in his lifetime. GOD’s glory was revealed in all of this.

You want to talk about suffering – Let’s talk about Job, he lost everything including his health, his children, his riches……. Everything ! He held onto his faith and was restored and once again, GOD’s will and glory was the purpose.

GOD loves us and HE suffers with us; right before HE raises Lazarus from death, HE sees the people crying and it says in John 11:35, JESUS wept. HE hurts when we hurt.

Being sick is not something we do to ourselves, or a punishment for things we have done or not done. Sometimes it just “is”. We may not even know or understand the reason but HE does. GOD knows and it is all to bring HIM glory. Our sickness is temporary…. We are healed to perfection when we are risen and taken to JESUS’ arms.

God is not offended when we cry our hearts out to Him. GOD wants us to commune with HIM regarding our sicknesses, to request healing, and to share our hurt with HIM. Look at the Psalms! We can be brutally honest with GOD while still trusting in HIS goodness and faithfulness. We do not have to present ourselves in a gentle or specific way! We can be real! “GOD this hurts, please take this cup from me”. That is so legitimate. I cannot tell you how many times I have screamed in my head, GOD, I just cannot deal with this $%$&?!?!#$  !!!

The beauty of illness is this. IT brings you closer to the LORD more so than most people will experience. It is raw because we are needy. Pain creates that. Pain creates a reliance. IF we direct that to HIM, we WILL find peace. Draw nigh unto HIM and HE shall draw nigh unto you.

Finally, ask your fellow believers for prayer. Not only does it connect us but it also is commanded. We shall pray for each other. IT also keeps our eyes on others and GOD and less on ourselves. Try it, you will see you will get a reprieve from pain. Those few moments while we pray for others, we think a bit less about our current situation.

Keep your eyes upon JESUS – Psalm 16:8

I keep my eyes always on the LORD; with HIM at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Someday, we will understand. For now we have faith. Someday, we will have physical wholeness, for now we have faith. For now we may be facing physical death, but someday we will have a beautiful place to go where nothing but love, joy and happiness exists beyond any of our imaginations and we will be with GOD, forever and ever.

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