Trials bring you closer to God!

Ever wondered why bad things happen to good people?  I have, especially during the spring of 2007 when I had an emergency appendectomy.  Though I was doing all I could to please God, sickness invaded my body.  In retrospect, however, I’m thankful for that experience.  My sickness gave me a new revelation – God is a healer – which drew me closer to Him!

Today’s recharge features a man named Jairus.  Mark describes him as a leader of the local synagogue, meaning he, like many of us, lived to please God.  Though he aimed for holiness, misfortune still found his address: his daughter became sick enough to die.  Ironically, this same trial brought him to Jesus.  Later, Jairus had a personal experience with Jesus’ healing power.

Maybe the madness in your life isn’t the result of bad deeds.  Maybe it’s there because of what you don’t know.  God is too awesome to reduce to a few characteristics, so He allows trials to reveal more of Himself to us.  Let this season of madness teach you more about God and bring you closer to Him.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world (1 Peter 4:12-13, New Living Translation)