Often, the love we need is given in ways we want the least. We all wonder why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Why does He want us to suffer? If He truly loves us all, why does He cause unhappiness and hurt in our hearts?

God wounds us because he loves us.

Sometimes God’s love for us feels like the opposite of love because of the negative situations we are put in. However, we can’t see everything He sees. Behind the real pain we experience, there is a reason for its cause. God does not hurt us to punish us. He wants us to look at suffering as an invitation. In every ounce of suffering, He calls us to come back to Him. He want us to ask Him to heal us, and to give us the strength and the hope that we need to overcome such situations.

When we finally do overcome an obstacle, we are able to see that God took certain people and disguised blessings out of our lives in the past, to allow for the real and true blessings from the future to come in.

"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

God closes doors in order for new ones to open.

In hard times of our life, we are able to see God’s love through our surroundings as well. When we are hurt, we must know that are never alone. We have to understand that God puts people in our lives to lead us to comfort, hope, and healing, not despair. God is willing to withhold anything to bring his people home to Him. Again and again, the pain he allows is designed to cause us to see our blessings and how much God truly loves us.

When such tragedies happen to us, God gives us the opportunity to look at the situation in two ways:

1. We can feel the pain, turn away from God, and do whatever we please to make us feel better in order for the pain to go away. This involves temptation or sin.
2. Or, We can feel the pain, turn TO God, allow Him to come into our lives and teach us what we have to learn about Him, about ourselves, about others, and how we can minister to those who are also suffering just like us.

Sometimes, God causes misfortune in our lives to understand the pain that others are going through. Suffering brings in unity as it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who are also in pain. It allows us to feel for others.

Because we have been comforted through the Word of God and our surroundings, we in turn may be able to comfort others through the love we know God has blessed us with.

Whether we return to God or not when we’re wounded, we will meet him one day regardless. The suffering we experience now is designed to call to God as a precious son or daughter who needs his love. But if we say no and refuse his love, we will meet him as one of his enemies, and the pain we go through will only get worse.

Of course, nobody wants bad things to happen to them. However, we should not be afraid to feel and grieve the pain we are in.

Let this pain and suffering lead you to God, not away from him.