All of us will have had to endure dark times in our lives. I call them valleys. No matter how good of a person you are or how bad you are, the rain of trouble and trials will come to you. So why strive to do things right? That might be a thought that crossed your mind, but that’s not the point of life. We don’t accept God in our life to erase troubles; that is a misconception. However, if we live for God, we don’t create many of our problems. We can avoid many issues that result from our actions or words when we learn to live for him.
…For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:45-46
Why We Have Valleys
We weren’t born into the Garden of Eden but into a fallen world. Our garden is full of crops planted by both good and sinful men and women. We are, in effect, living in a garden of both good and evil. This began the day that Adam and Eve made that fateful mistake of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We are also blessed with good times, the sunshine God speaks about in the Bible. The sunny days result from his goodness in what He created and those with submitted lives. The Bible says every good and perfect gift is from him, and it also says that he is good and he is love. When humans submit our lives to Him, we bring his good into our bad times.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Matthew 5:44, 46-47
The Solution
Jesus came to the earth as the solution and salvation to our eternal problem. Receiving His goodness and graciousness in salvation overflows into our earthly lives. We can accept and carry His spirit and spread His goodness in the lives of others. His goodness endures forever, and His love for the humans he created is all-encompassing. We don’t suffer from hardship because God doesn’t care or because He doesn’t love us. We experience difficulty because we were born into it, but when we accept God’s grace, we have His help. Although everyone has to deal with adversity, troubles, or trials, we can have His help, strength, and grace when we receive him.
