The father of a good friend of mine just recently passed away. Anybody who experienced losing someone whom he/she truly loved would agree that it is very hard to accept. It is painful. Much more when it happens during Christmas season. I too have recently lost my dad. I left home to go here in the US few years ago, kind of sad because I'll be away from my love ones for a long time, but I also carried with me the hope of a good future and that one day we'll be spending happy times again together. My parents were the ones most sad when I left but they too were looking forward to a better future. We all thought, "Ah, what's few years? We will still see each other again." But we were wrong. The last time I saw my dad alive was when I left my hometown years ago. I never even get the chance to do the things I planned to do for him with my mom when I get back, or when they come here. We didn't even get the chance to say goodbye. His passing was instantaneous. You can only imagine how painful it was for me and my family. No words could describe.
But I thank God He put it in my heart to always say, "I love you Pa," whenever we talked on the phone. Our family isn't used to saying those words but I know we all love each other. I remember how Papa would just smile (by the sound of his voice) every time I say those words but I know he loved all of us his children so much. But few months before he passed away, I have asked him to say those same words back. It felt really good. Always made me cry whenever I heard him say it. Tears of so much joy as well as longing to hug him, wishing US and Philippines were just a minute away.
Losing job, terminal illness, family breaking apart, calamity, tragedy, death of a loved one, being left behind, or any other similar hurtful events one could experience, these are what we call "bad" times, difficult times. They could cause one so much grief that sometimes it continues for a long time, even to the point of crushing us down, giving us no way back up, making us feel alone and helpless. Even worse, question God, "Why?"
Hard times are hard, but they can also be helpful. Remember when Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers. Years later, when he became Prime Minister of Egypt, he had saved many people's lives during a long famine. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God the Son (Jesus Christ) had to suffer and die on the cross. Humanity intended to harm (kill) Him but God intended it for good. He made the way, or most appropriately, He, Jesus Christ, is the way to eternal life (John 14:6).
Many Christians (in Biblical and contemporary times alike) have experienced reversal of seeming adversity to become evident blessing. That's the point of Ecclesiastes 7:1-10. Why did Solomon say, "The day of death [is] better than the day of birth" and that it's "better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting", and why did he declare that "sorrow is better than laughter" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-3)? Adversity isn't always a sign of God's disfavor. More spiritual lessons are learned during hardships, trials and sufferings. Paul said in Romans 5:3-4, "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5)
Surely you don't want to wait to experience adversity before coming to know the giver of hope and comfort. If you experience good times, then rejoice in God's blessings. Don't forget to praise and thank Him. If you experience bad times, learn from God's lessons. Afterall, life is a continuous lesson. We are taught to become like Christ. Focus on the things above, "...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14).
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