My parents have been doing a Bible study with our neighbors, and they’ve been talking about whether or not God causes or allows pain. Now, that is a completely different devotional/topic, but I think it touches on something very important: either way, we’re experiencing pain and fear. 

 

Why do we experience pain and suffering if we serve a good God? Wouldn’t God want us to only experience good things?

 

The fact is, He does want good things for us, which is why things that we view as bad happen to us. Think of it this way: God is a loving parent. Sometimes he has to discipline us, but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t love us. Sometimes he allows us to feel pain so that we may be protected later. It’s like when we were young and our parents made us get flu shots. They hurt and they were terrifying (at least for me), but it was for my good. My parents wanted to protect me, even if it meant that I would feel pain for a bit. 

 

I believe that this is one of those times where the world is receiving a flu shot—it hurts now, but maybe He’s preparing us for something else. You know why? Because God is a good, good father; the Bible tells us so!

 

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” ~ Isaiah 64:8

 

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” ~ Psalm 68:5

 

“But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” ~ Isaiah 63:16

 

So, dear friend, I encourage you to remember that you have a good Father who’s watching out for you. Quarantine might not be fun, but it’s necessary to protect you (just like a flu shot). Keep leaning in to the Father’s great love, because no pain goes without great reward from God.