In the Hospital? Comfort and Encouragement for Youనమూనా

Why Is This Happening?

Are you wondering why this health challenge is happening to you, whether there’s some sort of overarching purpose behind it, or how anything good could possibly come out of it? Are you asking questions like, Why am I suffering? Is there really a God? Why would He let this happen to me? Why do I have to be in the hospital going through this? Those are very natural and valid questions.

The family of Korah and other writers of the Psalms passionately and tearfully asked many of the same things in the Bible:

Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10:1 NIV

… “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed …” Psalm 42:9 NIV

Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? Psalm 44:24 NIV

Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? Psalm 88:14 NIV

Even Jesus Himself, at the peak of His terrible suffering, asked His Father,

… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 NIV

No answers are given. But these questions are an honest expression of how it feels to go through awful suffering. We really don’t have a resolution to all the “why” questions—at least not during our painful experiences. Sometimes we find out some things later. But in the meantime, what we do know is that God is with us through it all. He understands what it’s like to suffer and feel forsaken. He’s been there.

Even when you don’t understand what’s happening, and you haven’t been informed of the plan, know that God knows. Trust that He will see you through and He is not in the dark about anything. Like the writers of the Psalms, and like Jesus, you can express your questions, your frustration, and your pain to God and leave them all with Him to take care of at the right time.

A Place to Start in Prayer

Father, why am I going through this suffering? What are You doing? Come and help me! Please show Yourself to me. I’m calling out to You. Be near me. Send Your light and Your faithful care to me right here in my hospital room. Please take away my pain, let me get excellent medical care, heal me, and let me go home and recover to full health. Rescue me because of Your unfailing love.

Jesus, thank You that You know what the most terrible suffering is like—all the way to death. I praise You that You went beyond death for me and rose from the dead to give me life. Fill me with Your life and healing now. In Your powerful name, Jesus, amen.

More for You

Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel has asked a lot of these same kinds of questions. Here are some titles and topics of video messages you might search for and find helpful:

Why Did God Let It Happen?

—Part 1 of the Life.Church message series Ever Wonder Why?

Have you ever had a question so hard you wouldn’t even say it out loud? Or a doubt so big you didn’t feel like you could even pray about it? Don’t be afraid to ask God tough questions.

Where Is God When You Hurt?

—Part 1 of the message series Emotions

Pastor Craig offers a simple reminder to anyone feeling unsettled, depressed, anxious, or hopeless: God sees you. Cast your hopes, your cares, and your feelings on Him. He cares for you.

Why Is God So Slow?

—Part 2 of the message series Been There

Sometimes one of the most challenging parts of faith is waiting for God. It might be hard to imagine, but Jesus knows what it’s like to wait. He understands the frustration you feel. In this message, you’ll learn how to trust God while you wait.

Hope in the Dark

—A 3-part message series

Can God be good when life is not? When you feel broken, abandoned, and struggling to find answers, there’s a beacon in the storm. A comfort in your pain. A hope in the dark.

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

—A 3-part message series

Life doesn’t always go the way you expect. You pray with faith, but God doesn’t do what you asked. But just because God’s silent doesn’t mean He’s not there. When God doesn’t make sense might just be the time to trust Him the most.

Dealing With Your Doubt

—Part 1 of the message series Doubting God

It’s easy to think of doubt as a sign of weak faith. But it’s not. God isn’t afraid of your doubts, so you don’t have to be either. Create space for the questions you’ve been afraid to ask.

Try one of these encouraging video messages from Life.Church. You might find something that resonates with your heart right now.