April 28

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” — MATTHEW 5:45

God does not treat Christians with favouritism in natural disasters, illnesses or tragedies. If a plane crashes, the Christians die alongside the non-Christians. God does not give us preferential treatment. Christians get sick like others get sick. Christians die prematurely like others die prematurely. We are all human beings facing the same conditions. As Jesus said, “the rain falls on both the righteous and unrighteous alike”.

You might ask – then what’s the benefit of being a Christian? The question itself expresses a misunderstanding of the Gospel. Being susceptible to outward circumstances beyond our control is the same for everyone, but the benefit of being a Christian is that we have ‘Christ in us’ on whom we may depend. In every challenging situation, we are not alone. God’s presence in us is our security, our refuge, and hiding place from where we draw upon His strength to sustain us.

At our weakest, we are often our strongest. God’s power is manifested in our weakness, and while He is never the author of pain, tragedy or loss in our lives, He will work out His purpose in them. Some of the most painful experiences are often the times when God will do His deepest work in us. As said before, though we may not see it at the time, we can look back in retrospect and see how God was making us, not breaking us.

Paul also makes a wonderful point when he says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4). The benefit of being a Christian is not only in the strength and comfort we receive in Christ, but we are then equipped to help those coping with the same hardships and trials with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God.

We live in a fallen world alongside fallen people and share a common lot. We can truly experience the peace of God when we don’t resist the hard times, but in them, work together with God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are my refuge, my strength and comfort all the time, but especially in hardship. I ask that You give me many opportunities to help others in the same way You have helped me. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: How would I best explain to those going through a difficult time how the presence of God in their lives would help them?