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Maranatha

Have you ever asked God, “Why me? Why did You give me this life? Why did You give me these circumstances?” These questions can have you running down rabbit trails looking for answers. You might be guessing, “Is it something I did? Is it something I said? Is it punishment for my sin?” In the midst of tribulations you may have even prayed “Maranatha!” which means “Come Lord” quickly.

The Bible provides us with valuable insight regarding the trials in our lives. These verses tell us that we shouldn’t be surprised when we go through trials as if something were happening accidentally. Rather, we should expect it and rejoice in it. Christians have the ability to rejoice in the midst of tragedy not as an expression of lunacy, but by having a sober understanding of sharing in Christ’s suffering. While our suffering doesn’t add to the atonement for our sin, it does allow us to identify and unite with Christ and His suffering.

Trials also help us grow. Charles Spurgeon stated:

“See you not, then, that God may take away your comforts and your privileges to make you the better Christians? Why, the Lord always trains his soldiers, not by letting them lie on feather beds, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long march with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. This is the way in which he makes soldiers —not by dressing them up in fine uniforms, to swagger at the barrack gates, and to be fine gentlemen in the eyes of the loungers in the park. God knows that soldiers are only to be made in battle; they are not to be grown in peaceful times. We may grow the stuff of which soldiers are made, but warriors are really educated by the smell of powder, in the midst of whizzing bullets, and roaring cannonades—not in soft and peaceful times. Well, Christian, may not this account for it all? Is not thy Lord bringing out thy graces and making them grow? This is the reason why he is contending with you.”