“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress… “– Psalm 4:1, KJV
Troubles make us think as though God is so far away from us. When I experience problems in life like strained relationships or money problems, I easily fall into thinking that God has abandoned me and does not care for me at all.
It is only much later that I realize the good things that those difficult times have brought me. I realize that they brought me strength, greater patience, and most of all, a deeper understanding of the suffering of other people.
Without undergoing suffering myself, I can easily judge others or say words that offend without me even knowing it. Suffering softens the heart and increases our wisdom. It enables us to be of more help to other people.
God has enlarged me indeed in times when I think I was being reduced to worthlessness.
Lord, help me to be more patient today even when I don’t know what good these bad times are actually accomplishing for my soul.
Check Jocelyn's books:
"Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief", "Mend My Broken Heart", "Questions to God", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", and more - click here.
(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)
One reply on “When Bad Times Are Really Good Times”
so true, jocelyn. the sufferings i experienced in the past helped me learn how to be more compassionate with other people. and the wisdom they taught me can help those who are going through the same thing at the moment.
wonderful, heartwarming post. God bless <3 🙂