A Reason

On Monday morning I woke up early to get a good start to my day. There was a lot of dirty washing, so I thought I would get a load on straight away before my quiet time. I put a load in, poured the washing powder in, and pressed the on button. But when I moved the knob to the right cycle, nothing happened. So I tried pushing buttons and turning the knob again, and still nothing. I turned it off and tried again. Same thing. Oh no, not this again! We got a new washing machine only 6 months ago when our old one broke down. I didn't want to go back to the laundromat again. I left it and went and had a coffee and some quiet time. A stressed quiet time!  Half an hour later, I tried the washing machine again. Still not working. 
I remembered my husband had used it last. Could he have done something? But what could he do? Did he break it? Surely not! 
So I rung my husband, reluctantly explained what had happened and asked him if I should call the electrical man.
 He explained to me that it was on child lock!! He had meant to tell me, but it had slipped his mind as I was out when he had used it. 
"Oh, well please tell me next time! That was a bad start to my day!" I should have rung him straight away. Anyway, it was a relief and a little humorous to know that it was not broken, and after pressing the right buttons it was working!
There was a very simple reason for my problem. And all of life's problems have a reason. I already know this, but I often forget. It would save us a lot of frustration to remember that every difficulty, grief, struggle and trouble has a reason. Most of the time we don't know the reason. But we do know that if we love God, all things work together for good. And the next verses says (Romans 8:29)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…" That is one reason for troubles–to become like Jesus.
Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 12:10
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: 
for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Another reason–when we have troubles, we have to depend on God and God shows us His strength.
There is a reason our little girl has heart problems and Down Syndrome. There is a reason for my miscarriages. There is a reason for all the things that make me desperate for God's help. What a difference it makes to remember this.
And just like I should have rung my husband straight away, we should stay in close contact with God. He may not tell us the reason, but He will strengthen, comfort and encourage us.