“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” – 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 KJV

Sometimes the Lord will allow us to experience loss to show us that we need to be more dependent on Him. Thus, He puts us in a place where we will receive what He desires to give us, and thereby teaches us things about ourselves that we wouldn’t see otherwise. Hence drawing us closer to His good will.

It’s because people dwell on hardships of the past that they tend to fail to experience godly joy in the present. And because they don’t take the initiative to move away from places that they should no longer occupy, sometimes a push is needed to get them moving in the right direction. So, God puts a plan into motion to do just that. Of course, the first inclination is to think that something bad is happening, but after spending some time reflecting on the moment it is discovered that that push was actually a blessing in disguise. Indeed, God not only wants to give us good things, He has the power to make all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28).

Of course, for purposes of learning there is a time to reflect on the past, but there’s also a time when it ought to be left behind. In other words, there comes a point when we must accept what can’t be changed and move forward with assurance that God knows what He’s doing and will meet all of our needs. It is far better to think in terms of the future that God has prepared for us than to dwell on painful memories. We shouldn’t let what can’t be changed keep us from growing in Christ. Instead, we ought to be mindful of the things of God, reflecting on all that we’ve gained in Christ and what He has prepared for us in the life to come.

The presence of suffering should not be seen as a sign of a hopeless end, but as an opportunity for growth in Christ. Remember, God is with you! He knows the purpose of your pain better than you know yourself. Indeed, He will not only give you what you need to make it through the storms of life, but will also use your testimony as a means to help others overcome loss and hardship. Hence you will be a light shining in a dark place, comforting many during their troubles, just as God has also comforted you in yours.