I don't have the answer to that question, but was thinking about it this morning. A couple of friends have commented lately about how difficult it is to see children suffer. How difficult it is to reconcile what they are going through...cancer, genetic disorders, birth defects, so many things.
Anyway... here's my perspective. It may not be original, I haven't looked to see if anyone out there has made similar comments. So if I'm "copying" someone else, I apologize. It is not intentional. I believe in spiritual warfare. I believe that Satan wants nothing more than to attack us, destroy our faith in God, break us in every way possible. Is there any better way to accomplish this than through children?? They are innocent, they've done nothing to deserve pain and suffering. Even the hardest heart is touched by a child who sick.
When Satan targets a child, he targets more than just the individual. It involves family, friends, church, school, communities. People who don't even know the child can be called to action, advocacy, outreach, prayer. These situations unite and tear apart. They cause people to question their faith, their believe in a kind and loving Father God. And when this happens, Satan wins.
God doesn't guarantee an easy life. He doesn't promise answers to the pain and suffering, the injustice, the trials in this world. But what He does promise is that He will be with us during those difficult times. He asks us to believe that He can take the most horrific situation and bring about beauty because of it. And when we continue to trust and place our faith in God, when we continue to praise Him in the midst of the storm, Satan no longer has the ability to shake our foundation and he loses all power.
So, while I don't have the answer to why children suffer. I do know that I have a God who understands and stands by us at our darkest moments. He is constant. And He will sustain us when we can't comprehend the difficulties in life. That's just my perspective this morning - for what it's worth!!
Thanks for the kick in the butt! I am very grumpy today and honestly taking it out on my family not being the happy momma today. I just couldn't understand why someone said something they did to us about our child coming home when all along I should of know that Satan was behind the attack and I should be in my Bible and prayer instead if being grumpy. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAmen Melanie. I have been following your blog since you brought Maia home from Ukraine. I love reading your posts. You have such a heart for God and you are an inspiration. Praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteTina
Melanie, I read your posting twice. Such a difficult subject, and one you probably would not have considered so carefully now if not for Maia's illness. Prayer and the need for prayer are so different depending on the circumstances of your life at that given time. Prayers of praise, prayers of thanks, prayers requesting healing or understanding or peace. God hears spoken and unspoken prayer. He is with us always. Thanks for the insightful post.
ReplyDeleteMelanie, this is also my perspective on "why children suffer". It is easy to forget that life for us in the temporal realm is a spiritual warfare, ALWAYS (Eph.6, Job 1, and other refs.)It's easy to forget, unless we spend a lot of time in the Word of God, that Satan is the real enemy, always out to kill, steal and destroy and we have a job to do which is in the realm of the eternal -- carrying on spiritual warfare by interceding for one another and exercising faith in God Who is mightier in us than "he" (Satan) that is in the world. And so, I and my praying friends continue to pray for Maia and your special family.
ReplyDeleteAMEN. I agree with you completely. I believe satan attacks to bring about evil, God can turn it around to work out for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. This is why we need to put on the whole armour of God always.
ReplyDeleteThe hard part for us, as ordinary humans, is to trust God for the good. We don't want to surrender the control of our lives, we want our own way. No wonder Jesus compared us to little children, that is how we often behave.
Covering you all in prayer, especially Maia.
Believing God for Good, for healing.
Hugs to you all.
Jacquelene L.
Canada