Without suffering and evil, how would we know joy and grace? Without tests and trials, how can we grow and gain faith? My prior life had a lot more comfort afforded by an easy, well paying job that afforded my sinful mind time and resources to chase earthly desires. After being saved through Jesus Christ I left that old life and am now in a “worse” situation by many aspects but I enjoy this struggle more now knowing and believing this life will lead to true fulfillment and purpose. How much suffering is caused by envy, greed, or resentment for the current condition someone is in and by comparing it to others? Your path is your own. Your life is yours. Everything that is, is the best it can be. Regret causes questioning of answers that cannot be changed. “Everything happens for a reason” is a saying that cannot be sporadically applied. If everything happens for a reason then all we are left to do is understand why. To each question of why, one chooses which’s side to see, the light or the dark, the good or the bad. Looking to darkness of why can cause one to will feel negative emotions but looking to the light of everything, one can feel grace. Focusing on the light/Jesus allowed Peter to walk on water. Questioning his path caused him to sink. It’s all about perspective and choosing a side. It’s much easier said than done and we all fall victim to tough times. We all question our path at times but striving each day to be better and grow one’s faith, I believe, is a better path than giving in and allowing darkness to consume.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
James 1:2-8 NIV
33 and a Third 