What’s So
“Good”
About Tough Times?
by Steve Johnson
Christlikeness. It doesn’t say His purpose for us it to be comfortable in life. His purpose for those He redeems is to be like Jesus Christ. Romans 5:3-4 says God values character over convenience for us, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” God wants us to be people of character—compassionate, self–controlled, and humble to name a few qualities He values. Finally there’s Ephesians 1:4: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” That’s holiness. It doesn’t say He chose us before the creation of the world to be happy and pain free.
Does all this mean God doesn’t like it when life is going smoothly for us and we are comfortable, happy, and pain free? No. It’s just that because His value system is different He will allow those things we value to be set aside for the highest good.
“All things? For our good? How can that be true? How do we reconcile that with our tough life experiences?” If that then is God’s value system, how do I transform the difficulties I face into the good result God desires? It all boils down to our response. As Chuck Swindoll says, “The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 7