Biblical Answer

In times of difficulty and frustration, it's easy to feel like we're being unfairly treated or that something is happening to us again, but not for good reasons. We might ask ourselves, "Why did this have to happen to me...again?" This question can be a sign of our own self-centeredness and lack of trust in God's sovereignty. We need to remind ourselves that God is in control of all things, and He allows circumstances to unfold in our lives for a purpose.

When we look at the story of Judas, we see a classic example of this kind of thinking. Jesus told Judas, "You betrayed Him. You denied Him. But I know you did it in ignorance." (Acts 3:17) Jesus didn't condemn Judas, but instead, He invited him to repent and be converted, so that his sins might be blotted out. This shows us that even in our failures and mistakes, God is still working to bring about good. We need to learn to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when things don't go as we planned.

As we navigate life's challenges, we can apply the principle that C.S. Lewis called "the practical principle of loving our enemies." When we choose to love others, even when we don't like them, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's love and redemption in our lives. We can learn to love others, not because they deserve it, but because God loves them and wants to use us to show them His love. By doing so, we can experience the "times of refreshing" that come from God's presence, even in the midst of difficulty and frustration. (Acts 3:19) As we seek to understand why things happen to us, we can learn to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, and experience the peace and joy that come from knowing Him.