Biblical Answer

Why did God take away my ability to enjoy life?

Understanding God's Sovereignty

The question of why God took away your ability to enjoy life is a complex one that requires an understanding of God's sovereignty. As the Bible teaches, God is the sovereign ruler of the universe, and He has the power to grant or withhold joy and happiness from anyone He chooses. In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author, Qoheleth, writes, "This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (2:24-25). This verse suggests that our ability to enjoy life is a gift from God, and that He has the power to take it away or give it to us.

God's Purpose for Our Lives

However, it's not just about God's power to grant or withhold joy. God's purpose for our lives is to bring us into a relationship with Him and to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. When we were born again, we were given a new purpose and a new desire - to know and enjoy God Himself. This desire is not something that we create on our own, but rather it is a gift from God. As the Bible teaches, "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). This means that our purpose in life is not to pursue our own desires and dreams, but to fulfill God's purposes for us.

Trust in God's Sovereignty

So, why did God take away your ability to enjoy life? The answer is not always easy to understand, but it's often because God is taking us into His purposes. When we are living life on our own terms, we are often trying to find our own happiness and fulfillment. But when we surrender to God's sovereignty and trust in His goodness, we can find joy and happiness in Him, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. As Qoheleth writes, "For he will be merry, for tomorrow we die" (2:26). But this is not the reason why God takes away our ability to enjoy life. Rather, it's because God is taking us into His purposes, and He wants us to trust in His sovereignty and goodness, even when we don't understand what's happening. We can trust that God is big enough to accomplish all things, and that He is working everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).