Why Is This Happening To Me?

Devotional

Day 1: God Is Always Working In, Out, For, and Through You

Even when life feels confusing or painful, God is actively at work in your life—shaping your character, removing what hinders you, providing for you, and using you to bless others. Sometimes the hardest work God does is within us, renewing our minds and hearts, and preparing us for what He wants to do through us. Instead of asking “Why is this happening?” consider asking, “God, what are you working in me, out of me, for me, or through me in this season?” Trust that His process, though sometimes uncomfortable, is always for your good and His glory. [14:24]

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Reflection: What is one area of your life right now where you sense God is trying to work in you, out of you, for you, or through you? How can you intentionally cooperate with Him in that area today?

Day 2: Suffering and Hope—God’s Goodness in the Middle

Suffering is a universal part of the human experience, but for those who trust in Christ, suffering is never the end of the story. Even when we don’t understand why pain or loss comes, we can hold onto the hope that God is working all things together for our good and that future glory far outweighs present troubles. Our hope is not in having all the answers, but in the assurance that God’s love and purpose remain steadfast, even in the hardest seasons. [30:30]

Romans 8:18-23 (ESV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Reflection: When you face suffering or disappointment, what helps you remember that God is still good and that hope remains? How can you remind yourself of this truth today?

Day 3: The Tension Between What We Want and What God Says

There is often a real, painful tension between our desires and God’s commands, especially when we don’t understand His reasons. Like Eve in the garden, we may be tempted to believe that what we want makes more sense than what God wants for us. Yet, God allows us to experience this tension so that we can freely choose to trust and love Him, even when we don’t have all the answers. In the middle of confusion or longing, God invites us to wait for Him and trust that His plans are better than our own. [36:19]

Genesis 3:1-6 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Reflection: Where in your life are you feeling the tension between what you want and what God has said? What would it look like to choose trust and obedience in that area today?

Day 4: Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

When we are desperate for answers to life’s hardest questions, Jesus offers us something better than explanations—He offers Himself. Jesus, who has walked through suffering and understands our pain, invites us to trust Him as the way forward, the truth we can rely on, and the life that sustains us. Instead of being consumed by the need to know “why,” we are called to pursue the One who is greater than all our questions and whose grace is sufficient for every circumstance. [46:04]

John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Reflection: What is one area of confusion or pain where you have been seeking answers more than seeking Jesus Himself? How can you turn to Him as your way, your truth, and your life today?

Day 5: Grace Is Greater Than Sin and Suffering

No matter what you have done or what has been done to you, God’s grace through Jesus Christ is greater than any sin, shame, or suffering. Through Adam, sin and death entered the world, but through Jesus, we receive forgiveness, righteousness, and the power to live in victory. You have the freedom to choose which voice will be greatest in your life—the voice of shame and condemnation, or the voice of God declaring His grace is sufficient and His love is unending. [50:20]

Romans 5:17 (ESV)
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Reflection: What voice have you been listening to most—shame, fear, or the voice of God’s grace? What is one practical way you can choose to let God’s grace be greater in your life today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the deep and often painful question: “God, why is this happening to me?” Rather than offering easy answers to life’s hardest moments, we looked to the story of Job and the garden of Eden to understand the complexity of suffering, loss, and the tension between what we want and what God allows. We acknowledged that sometimes, the pain we experience is a result of our own choices, sometimes it’s the result of others’ actions, and sometimes it’s simply the mysterious work of God shaping us for His purposes. In all of this, the call is not to demand answers, but to seek God’s presence and trust Him in the middle of our confusion.

We saw in Job a man who, despite unimaginable loss, refused to let his circumstances define his faith. He grieved, he questioned, but ultimately he worshiped. His story reminds us that God is not obligated to explain Himself to us, but He is always present, always working—sometimes in us, sometimes through us, sometimes for us, and sometimes drawing things out of us. The real question is not “why,” but “what”—what is God doing in this season, and how will we respond?

We also looked at the garden, where Adam and Eve faced the tension between what they knew God had said and what they wanted. Their failure was not just in disobedience, but in running from God instead of running to Him in their shame and confusion. God’s heart is not to shame us, but to walk with us through our pain, our questions, and our failures. He invites us to be honest about where we are, to let Him meet us in the middle, and to trust that His grace is greater than our understanding.

Ultimately, Jesus is the answer—not just to our questions, but to our deepest needs. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He has walked through suffering, He has been tested, and He can be trusted. When we don’t understand the “why,” we can cling to the “who”—the One who is with us, who is for us, and whose grace is always greater.

Key Takeaways

1. God is always working in, out, for, or through us God’s work in our lives is multifaceted. Sometimes He is shaping our character from within, sometimes removing things that hinder us, sometimes orchestrating circumstances for our good, and sometimes using us to bless others. The process is rarely simple or painless, but it is always purposeful. Our role is to remain open to His work, even when we don’t understand it. [14:24]
2. The tension between what we want and what God says is where faith is forged Eve’s struggle in the garden was not just about disobedience, but about the internal conflict between her desires and God’s command. We all face moments where what we want seems to make more sense than what God asks of us. True faith is forged in these moments—not by having all the answers, but by choosing to trust God’s heart when we can’t see His hand. [36:19]
3. God does not owe us answers, but He offers us Himself Job’s story teaches us that God is not obligated to explain the mysteries of suffering. Instead, He invites us into a relationship where trust is built not on explanations, but on His character and presence. Our peace comes not from understanding everything, but from knowing the One who holds everything. [27:44]
4. Grace is greater than good or evil—Jesus is enough We often seek the knowledge of “why” behind good and evil, but what we truly need is the grace and truth found in Jesus. His grace covers our failures, our pain, and even our unanswered questions. When we choose to trust Him, we find that His presence is enough, even in the middle of our confusion and suffering. [47:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Challenging Entitlement and Cultivating Generosity
[01:43] - Vision for Men and Families in the Church
[02:56] - Sacrifice, Ownership, and Building the Kingdom
[04:06] - Ambassadors for Christ: Moving from Crowd to Team
[06:45] - Series Recap: “God, Why?” and the Garden
[07:58] - Job’s Lament and Honest Questions
[11:56] - The Limits of Easy Answers
[13:47] - God’s Work: In, Out, For, and Through
[17:08] - The Better Question: Not Why, but What
[18:34] - Job’s Integrity and the Test of Suffering
[21:46] - Is God Good Only When Life Is Good?
[23:41] - We Reap What We Sow—And More
[27:44] - God’s Sovereignty and Our Humility
[30:30] - Suffering, Hope, and the Human Condition
[33:45] - The Garden: Tension Between Knowledge and Trust
[36:19] - Wrestling with the Middle: When We Don’t Understand
[39:33] - God’s Pursuit: “Where Are You?”
[44:48] - Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
[47:19] - Grace Is Greater Than Good or Evil
[50:20] - The Gift of Grace Through Jesus
[51:39] - Will You Trust Jesus in the Middle?
[52:15] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[53:33] - Next Steps and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Job 1:20-22 (ESV) — > Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

- Genesis 3:6-9 (ESV)
> So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

- Romans 8:28 (ESV)
> And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Observation Questions

In Job 1:20-22, what is Job’s immediate response to losing everything, and what does this show about his relationship with God?
According to Genesis 3:6-9, what did Adam and Eve do after they disobeyed God, and how did God respond to their actions?
The sermon mentions that sometimes suffering is a result of our own choices, sometimes from others, and sometimes it’s just a mystery. What examples did the pastor give for each of these? [[23:41]]
In Romans 8:28, what does Paul say about God’s work in the lives of those who love Him?

Interpretation Questions

What does Job’s reaction to his suffering teach us about how to process pain and loss in our own lives? [[22:25]]
The pastor said, “God is always working something in you, out of you, for you, or through you.” What does this mean, and how does it change the way we look at hard seasons? [[14:24]]
In the story of Adam and Eve, what was the real failure—was it just disobedience, or was it something deeper about how they responded to God after they sinned? [[41:38]]
The sermon says the better question is not “why” but “what”—what is God doing in this season, and how will we respond? Why is this shift important for our faith? [[17:08]]

Application Questions

The pastor shared that Job grieved, questioned, and still worshiped. When you face loss or confusion, do you tend to run toward God or away from Him? What would it look like for you to “worship in the middle” of your pain? [[22:25]]
Think about a current struggle or disappointment in your life. Instead of asking “why is this happening,” try asking, “God, what are you trying to do in me, out of me, for me, or through me?” How does this change your perspective? [[14:24]]
The sermon talked about the tension between what we want and what God says. Can you think of a time when your desires conflicted with God’s direction? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [[36:19]]
Adam and Eve hid from God after they messed up. Are there areas in your life where you are hiding from God or covering up instead of being honest with Him? What would it look like to let God meet you “in the middle” of your shame or confusion? [[41:38]]
The pastor said, “God does not owe us answers, but He offers us Himself.” How do you feel about the idea that God may not explain everything, but He promises to be present with you? [[27:44]]
Jesus is described as “the way, the truth, and the life.” When you don’t understand the “why,” how can you practically cling to the “who”—Jesus—in your daily life? [[46:04]]
Grace is greater than good or evil. Is there a place in your life where you need to receive God’s grace instead of demanding answers or trying to figure everything out? What step can you take this week to rest in His grace? [[47:19]]

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