Sometimes our minds just cannot fathom the reasoning behind things. We blame it on bad luck. We regret choices that brought on misfortune. We point to others, saying it has to be their fault because nothing is ever our fault. Maybe it’s Friday the 13th. Maybe a black cat crossed your path. Have you broken a mirror in the past seven years?
Truth is: There is a reason for everything.
I hate clichés. “There is a reason for everything.” “This will make you stronger.” “He won’t give you more than you can handle.” But you know why they’re clichés? Because they’re true.
When we’re in the midst of turmoil, in the middle of crisis, we don’t see how there could ever be a reason for the pain, heartache, or tears. Sometimes the shock is so deep that we can’t even bring on tears, no matter how hard we try.
You’ll find yourself trying to ease your trepidation in various ways. Maybe you’ll lie in bed all day and refuse to confront the situation (If I stay here long enough this will all go away). Perhaps you’ll try to pretend it isn’t happening (If I look normal and act normal, then I am normal, right?). Maybe you’ll gorge on ice cream (I don’t know why this is happening: Where’s the Rocky Road?). Perhaps you’ll buy yourself things you don’t need (Yes, this will fill the void in my soul).
Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Why?
“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)
The human heart and mind is weak. We cannot see what the Lord sees. We cannot see the devil, even when it’s right in front of us. Evil lurks around every corner, in every facet of our lives. It’s in temptations. It’s on TV. It’s in the movies, magazines, newspaper. It’s in our schools and churches. It’s on the playgrounds and in our homes. We don’t see it. Until it’s too late.
“Well, I would’ve never let my son go to so-and-so’s house if I knew that was going to happen.”
“I should have insisted on driving, but who knew a drunk driver would be on the road?”
“We should’ve known better than to trust him.”
“I would’ve gone to the doctor sooner but I thought it would just go away.”
“Who knew his drinking was so out of control?”
“I thought the other parents were consenting to their daughters having sex when they put them on the pill. But now my daughter’s the one who’s pregnant.”
No. Stop. We cannot change things that happened in the past. But we can “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:1) However, our ears are deaf to that lions roar. We have to be self-controlled and alert.
We probably won’t be able to stop the craftiness of evil, but if we a vigilant in being on the lookout, then perhaps we can prevent some things.
Don’t look back. We can’t fix that. We can’t change that. We can’t make it better.
Look ahead. Fix that. Change that. Make that better.
Most of all, love your enemy.
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