Encouraging Others Through Hardships

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

As a young woman, Megan was diagnosed with lung cancer. Shocked, she couldn’t understand why she was facing such a terrible disease. How could anything good possibly come from such devastating news?

After she was discharged from the hospital and began to find a new normal, she had a conversation with an older man who had also experienced health-related challenges. He reminded her that even though we may not understand why bad things happen, God can help us to learn and grow from them. At the time, she was too angry and hurt to listen to his words, but she never forgot them.

Eighteen years later, Megan’s father was diagnosed with a lung disease. Now able to see how her own health problems had prepared her to help her dad in his battle, she felt grateful. She remembered the conversation with the older man so many years earlier, and it resonated in a new way. Her dad had walked alongside her during her illness, and now she was able to do the same for him.

In Romans, the apostle Paul reminds believers that God can use all of the things we face for our good and his glory. Notice that he doesn’t say everything we encounter is good or that God is the reason we experience troubles. Evil exists in the world, and bad things can and do happen to anyone. But even though we may not understand why we undergo trials, we can still choose to trust God. When we see our hardships as opportunities for personal growth or a chance to encourage someone else, we can find peace and purpose even amid painful circumstances.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Think of a challenging experience in your own life. How can you use what you learned to encourage someone else?