Carol J German

If God is so good, why does He allow heartache on this side of heaven? If God is so loving, why do people suffer? If He can stop any evil act from happening, why doesn’t He? We all ask questions like these, and thankfully God has given us His Word so we can gain understanding into them.

There is a simple answer to why God allows heartache and sorrow to be a part of our days. It is because God is breaking the spirit of unbelief that lies within every heart.

Sin disrupted God’s plan. His creation was made in such a way that He said it was good; read Genesis 1 and 2. His creation lived in harmony without heartache and sorrow until the deadly serpent deceived man. From that moment on through our present day, the deadly serpent has reign on this earth along his anti-God agenda to continue to deceive man. His reign will end when Jesus returns; read the book of Revelation.

Sin disrupts your heart from fully believing God.

Three factors come against you throughout your day(s). The deadly serpent, aka Satan, is one, the world is another, and the third factor is your flesh, your personal desires. All three are naturally bent on rebelling God and His ways; thus you have a spirit of unbelief within. You live in a world which has been affected by sin; thus it lives in opposition to its Creator. The world does everything backwards which creates chaos. This chaos is why there is such heartache in life. I don’t need to give examples, for you already are well aware of the chaos, like the catholic school shooting in Minneapolis last week.

Most of us can agree that when life is good, God takes the back burner. We become self-sufficient. Do you realize that our Heavenly Father fully understands this? Sin has caused man to be separated from His presence, and in His love, He made a way for man to return to Him! It is the only way and it is through His one and only son Jesus. He became the resurrected King so you and I can have full access back to God! If that isn’t true love, then I don’t know what is.

For man to redirect his eyes and ears back to God rather than around or within himself, God allows heartache and hardships to enter in. When we become “helpless”, God steps in to show who He is. He uses all things, good and evil, to bring about clarity in who He is. He is breaking the spirit of unbelief and helping every child who desires to know Him deeply that He can be trusted. He allows tough days so we will come to know just how real He is.

When I look back at all that I have been through, there has never been a time where God has not revealed Himself to me. There were times I didn’t notice, yet He was there. How have I become close to Him and know that He is with me and that I can trust Him? It was and is through heartache and hardships. He allows me to get to the end of my own resources where I then discover His great love. The good news is that I am recognizing His great love a whole lot sooner.

He wants me to be with Him.

I continue to revel in that truth. It is what keeps me moving forward by faith.

What have you faced in the past? What are you facing now? Know that I am sorry if it is hurting your heart and soul or perhaps you are confused in why life is the way it is. Please know, God is with you. He is doing everything possible to reveal Himself to you. Are you willing to look up and see? Are you willing to listen to His Spirt speak tenderly to you? His Word will guide you.

Your frustrations, disappointments, and hurts cause God to work all the more harder wooing you to Himself. He fully understands what is coming against you and His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ is the remedy. God fills His children with Himself, and there is where your heart, soul, and mind are renewed and restored. He becomes your joy. He becomes your peace. He becomes your hope, even if your circumstances do not change.

James 1:12 ESV says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Heartaches, hardships, trials will come, but rejoice for Jesus is with you and I. We can learn and mature when we face hard things with Jesus. He will get us home to be with Him forever and ever.