Why this kind of suffering is happening? A COVID-19 Reflection

SPIRITUAL ASPECT

God is a loving God. I believe, God is not happy to see the people He made are suffering.

God has wonderful promises to His children. God promised LIFE and not death. I believe that eventhough He put us in this world full of uncertainties and hardships, He always wanted us to have beautiful and prosperous life on earth.

Exodus 20:12 (KJV)  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Psalms 112:1-3 (KJV)
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

God wants to bless us and not to harm us, simply because He loves us.

And it hurts God to see the people whom He loved are living in unrighteous and disobedient life.

Remember during Noah's time, because of men's great wickedness, "The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." Gen.6:6

He wiped the human race from the face of the earth, but not Noah who found favor in God's sight because of his RIGHTEOUSNESS. God spared Noah and his family. They were quarantined inside the boat for more than a month until the flood was over. After the flood, it was like a new life for Noah and his family.

Noah's righteousness is not because of himself, it is the righteousness of God that made him righteous.

Jonah was one of the characters in the history who received a mandate from God, and that was to PREACH THE WORD OF GOD in Nineveh. But because of fear, he disobeyed God. God disciplined Jonah by allowing him to be quarantined inside the big fish.

1. TO DISCIPLINE US

Seemed like a "bad" situation for Jonah, am I right? You may also face in situations like that or in situations that may lead you to question God. But remember, our God is good (best, rather). He will not put you in a place where you cannot survive, or give you load which you cannot bear. Also ask your self, "Why do I have to be disciplined? What mistake have I done? What is to be corrected in me?"

God's form of discipline may not be easy, but you have to deal with it and learn from God. You may become uncomfortable and unhappy, but you have to trust Him, trust Him, and trust Him. He wants to direct you in the way you should go. After all, God is with you! He felt what you feel. He knew what you know.

There is good in the bad that we learn to realize WHO REALLY GOD IS.

1. It is not the perfect will of God that we face such hardships, but He allowed that to happen to make us full.

Noah's righteousness before God helped his family be saved. When Jonah learned to obey God, he was able to help SAVED LIVES.

Are we like Noah, living uprightly, yet have a big role in bringing our family to the righteousness of God?

Are we like Jonah, we received God's command but still reluctant to obey it because of fear or because of other reasons?

See how righteousness and obedience to God matter. Though it is by God's grace that we have been saved, our righteousness and obedience to God show our reverence to Him.

And the good result?

James 5:16 (KJV)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The whole world is suffering now. Is it God's form of discipline? I believe, yes.
Why do we have to be disciplined?
What mistake have we done?
What is to be corrected in us?
Remember God and His Word.

2. TO REMEMBER GOD AND HIS WORD

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Deuteronomy 5:33 NIV
Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronony 31:8 NIV
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

All situations are in God's control. Remember God as your Creator and Savior. Remember His commands and promises. Read the Bible and pray!

We, human, have to recognize that we need God; we need His forgiveness and mercy; without God, we can do nothing. Let us offer ourselves to God, have a teachable spirit, and follow Him. And blessings will be upon us in the midst of this trial and suffering.

3. TO COME TO GOD PERSONALLY

People usually call God when they are devastated. I believe that is why, sometimes, God allows trials in our lives so we can call Him. But of course, God wants to establish in us the attitude of needing God everyday, whatever the situation is, in happiness and wellness or in sadness and sicknesses.

Although we can grow and go with people who are being used by God to help us in following God faithfully and fruitfully, coming before God is very personal. So let us have quality time to listen to His voice, that we may respond right to His call.

Just like what happened to Samuel,
1 Samuel 3:8-9 (KJV)
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

4. TO RECOGNIZE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD

In whatever circumstances, God can save us! There is no question about that. The question is, "How long do we need to be diciplined by God before we fully obey Him?"

Many children are being spanked by their parents many times, but will repeat the same mistake all over again. Why? Because they did not understand their mistakes and they did not realize the lesson.

Unless we realize our sins before God, we will not bow down and will not allow Him to TRANSFORM our lives. Unless we realize what God wants to tell us, we will keep having that feeling that everything is alright even there are things to be corrected.

First, we have to recognize HOW WELL ARE WE BEFORE GOD? Do we have sins to be confessed and repented? Do we need God's direction?

Acts 26:18 (KJV)  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

5. FOR GOD TO REVEAL HIMSELF

I see the stories in the Bible that God was allowing things to happen to people to reveal His faithfulness and goodness.

GOD wants us to see how great He is. Almighty and majestic God. Merciful and just God. All good things come from Him.

TURN BACK TO HIM AND FULLY SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO HIM. And truly, the goodness and mercies of God will follow us all the days of our lives.

When Jonah was quarantined, he was able to listen to God's voice clearly. Now that we are quarantined, let us maximize the time to have a closer talk to God. Let us desire to hear God's voice, because deep in God's heart is a longing to commune with each of us.

I hope and pray that Covid-19 sufferings will end very soon. And even all this is over, may we all live after God's happiness; a life that is upright and obedient to God forever.

#AfterGodsHappiness