I often answer, ‘God knows best for us’.
There are some reasons why people suffer.
Maybe it was inflicted by others, or perhaps it was self-inflicted - a product of our everyday decisions in life.
But maybe it is because God wants to test our faith.
There are various sources of suffering, but mostly people suffer so much because of the inability to find meaning in it.
Sometimes God tests our faith, not that he might know what is in us, but that we might know that God knows what is best for us.
We often say ‘I love God’ and he is always in our mind, but we can easily deceive ourselves unless that love of God is put to the test.
The story of Job in the scriptures helps us understand how to understand why people suffer.
Job looked up to God in heaven and wanted to know why he had to suffer so much.
He cannot comprehend the mind and actions of God.
In the end, he accepted in faith the wisdom of God saying “Behold, I am of small account, what shall I answer thee”?
We always say ‘I love you Lord’, but we become aware of the depth of our love only when our faith is tested.
When silver is refined, it always involves pressure.
So too, when we are pressured by trials. We must hold on and remain faithful listening to God.
Listening to God and obedience to his commands in the time of trials melts away our pride to reveal a new heart, not of stone, but a heart of love.
~ Contributed by Fr Line Abilgos of St Michael’s Catholic Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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