We find ourselves asking this question more and more. Sometimes, the losses and crosses of a hard life seem to mount and grow. Unrelenting troubles crash on our shores over and over again. And we ask (perhaps in exasperation), Why does this stuff keep happening?
We can find in Scripture many answers to this question. In fact, I found one today and it brought me a lot of encouragement. Listen to this:
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15
This passage gives a two-purpose answer to the question: grace and thanks. What in the world is God doing? Why do the easy and hard things ordained by Him keep coming? Grace. And. Thanks.
What a load of encouragement and hope and courage and fortitude and motivating truth God has packed in this little verse! Do you want to thrive in the midst of easy and hard things? Know this: God is working in and around you to bring about two big results:
- The sprawling spread of His transforming grace.
- The boundless cry of gratitude to Him.
What could be better for you and others than the spread of God’s grace to others and the increase of your joy in gratitude to God!
It seems to me we ought to shape our lives around these two purposes today. I know there are many things on your to-do list, and probably many more on your obsessive worry list. But if you will plant this verse in your heart and water it with meditation, you can join God in His incredible work.
In whatever small way you can, raise to the top of your list these two purposes: spread gospel grace to anyone you can, lift your voice in gratitude for the good news of Jesus, the reason all this stuff keeps happening.