Blessings in Disguise

The other day I asked a
lady on the lift why she is staying at Ronald McDonald (Ronald
McDonald is free accommodation for those who have children/young
people in the Wellington Hospital).

She answered, “My
youngest son who is 20yrs has cancer. He's having chemotherapy for 6
months.”

I was already feeling a
little down at the time, but when she told me that, I nearly cried on
the spot! While I ate dinner, I felt so sad for this family.

Putting my dishes in the
dishwasher I noticed a little girl with a huge swollen hand. She
obviously had something wrong with her.

Everywhere I look at the
moment, there is suffering. Pain. Heartache. Tears. Worry.

I went to my room and
burst into tears.

Why so much suffering?

Why does a 20yr old have
to get cancer?

Then the thought came to
me. Cancer could turn out to be a blessing to this family. If it
turns them to God, it would be all worth it. It could mean their life
is changed for good.

I was able to wipe my
tears and pray for this family—that God would use this trial to
bring them to God, or to bring them closer to Him if they already
know Him.

Hard times are often
blessings in disguise. God wouldn't allow them otherwise.

If we pray for God's
blessing, God may have to bring hard times in order to answer those
prayers.

If we pray to be
Christlike, God will send difficulties that will teach us to be
Christlike.

Instead of praying for God
to take trials away, maybe we should pray that we will be changed for
good through them.

My baby has had a lot of
heel pricks while she has been in the Nicu. She doesn't like them.
It's the main time I hear her cry.

I can imagine her
thinking, “Mummy, this hurts! Why are you allowing this? Don't you
love me? Make them stop!”

And my answer would be, “I
hate to see you hurting, Lydia. But it's for your good. You need it.”
I would then do my best to comfort her until it was over.

God allows trials because
we need them. He doesn't like to see us hurting, but He gives us
comfort during hard times.

It's easy to question
God's love during difficulties, but sometimes it's because
of God's love. Hard times wake us up to what's really important in
life and help us to see our need for God. They force us to depend on
Him. They give us much more love and understanding for others.

“It is good for me that
I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm
119:71

For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 4:17