“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
–Psalms 73:3 (KJV 2000)

Have you ever asked God why when you were passed up for that big promotion? If you’ve been laid off, you might be asking where the money to pay all your bills will come from. The Psalmist seemed to be asking similar questions when he saw the prosperity of ungodly people. Things haven’t changed much today. Working in the hospital, I see people who face all kinds of health issues, and they ask why every day. But Philipians 4:19 counters this question by saying, “And my God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus.”

How, you may ask, are these two thoughts reconciled?
I was asking much the same thing when I went through some hard times in my life. I lived alone in a little room for a while, and I thought my life was pretty much over. Subsequently, God helped me to get back on my feet, but I still faced hardship and death. Those two verses came together for me when I realized that this life is just God’s training ground. While I didn’t have any mystical revelations, I knew that God was always working behind the scenes. Over time, I realized that there was a larger picture, and that God was molding me into the person he wanted me to be. Through those hard times, he got my attention. I felt like God was shaking me, as a parent might shake a preoccupied child. I was this as a positive action, as He got my life back on course.

If you are His child and need a little shaking to wake you up, He will do the same thing for you. Look at God’s correction as a positive form of guidance that will help you regain your footing. Let what you are facing challenge you to honestly evaluate your life. If you haven’t done so, ask God to help you make Him your first priority. On the other hand, hard times come to us all, and sometimes we just have to grit our teeth and hold on. You may be doing everything right spiritually, and if so God wants to strengthen and encourage you today.

While what he may or may not be doing is between you and God, I want to tell you that He loves you with an everlasting love. When the storms of life are at their worst, remember that He is above them, and He only wants your best. If you don’t know Christ today, God is inviting you to come to His table. In any case, you might pray something like this:

“Dear Lord, please help me to give you first place in my life. I confess my sins, and I want to commit my life to you. Help me look to you when it seems like things are going wrong, for I know that you have everything in my life under control. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Here’s a final thought for you: Don’t look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Look for the light in the tunnel with you.