THURSDAY

Romans 5:3-5

• How has God used the hard things in your life to shape you?

As a professional Bible-reader, I can tell you that there’s one topic that continually stumps theologians of all backgrounds and expertise. Theodicy, or the argument in the philosophy of religion that attempts to resolve the problem of evil, is essentially the task of answering the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

There’s no easy answer to this question, and it’s something I’d bet you’ll struggle to answer at some point in your own life. That’s ok; it’s normal.

Sometimes, difficult moments in our lives can shape us in ways we wouldn’t expect. For example, when I was in school, I studied far more than my peers just to feel prepared for tests. That huge amount of work made me feel like I wasn’t as smart as everyone else—why did they seem to understand things so quickly while I had to stay up late cramming? At the time, it felt pretty isolating and discouraging.

But once I got to college, I discovered that all those years of pushing myself had actually taught me how to study well. While many freshmen were overwhelmed and trying to build good habits for the first time, I already had them. What once felt like “suffering” ended up becoming a strength that helped me succeed long-term.

Sometimes, in our faith, hard times can shape and prepare us in ways we can’t see yet. Whatever phase of faith you’re in right now, remember: God always promises to be with you.