God.
Your home's breadwinner has been unemployed for a terribly long stretch. You have a lingering illness that keeps you from developing your career. You work so hard to save a little money and the markets collapse and your investments shrink or evaporate. You are hit with the tragic death of someone you loved very dearly.
"God, why did you let that happen?" "Why have you rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?" (Psalm 74:1).
Realize that God's people for millennia have been confused by their hardships and suffering and wondered if God has stopped loving them. Why does he let bad things happen to us? Worse--what if he's sending them? Or worst of all, what if they are punishments?
Realize these things:
(1) God no longer punishes his children. All the punishing has been done on the cross of Christ. There is no condemnation for those who believe in Christ.
(2) Earth is broken. Everybody suffers. You won't experience heaven on earth. You will get heaven in heaven.
(3) God sets limits on your pain.
(4) God solemnly promises to make everything in your life, even hardships, especially the hardships, work for you in the long run.
Cut him some slack. Wait. You'll see.
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