God has woven grief, sorrow, and confusion into the fabric of our lives—not as punishment but as part of his good plan.
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We proclaim our belief that God works all things for our good and his glory (Rom. 8:28). We affirm that the Lord will fulfill his purpose for us (Ps. 138:8) and that he’s mapped out every detail of our lives (139:16). So when hardship comes, why do we struggle? Why do we drown in our confusion? Why does it feel as though the joy within us has been drained, day after day? Why do we wrestle with anger, sadness, and a wavering confidence in the truth that the Lord was already at work long before we became aware of our troubles?
In 2019, my wife and I were certain of God’s call for me to serve as a pastor. Our family, friends, pastors, and local church all affirmed this calling. In faith, we uprooted our lives in Wisconsin and moved 12 hours away to Kansas City so I could attend seminary. We sacrificed time, energy, and stability to pursue God’s call, and as the years went by, more voices affirmed what was originally recognized by those back home.
