Facing life's challenges, no matter how large or small, is contingent on one thing - our understanding of just how much our God loves us. There are so many different discussions regarding bad things happening to us in this world. Some believe God allows it, some say God is testing us, maybe God has merely set this world in motion standing back and watching as life unfolds, or maybe bad things just happen in this world. There may be some truth in all of these, but regardless of the origin, hurt hurts, trouble troubles, and pain is painful. It doesn't change the experience and it does not change the results of our circumstances.

One of the greatest gifts God has taught me is that He always uses periods when it comes to freedom and healing. What this means to me is that when God sets you free, you are free indeed. However, satan loves to use question marks. At times in my life when God has been doing a great healing in my life and I feel free, satan comes in with a question “Are you sure?” God is just not the God of question marks. I love that about Him. He is definitive, determined, and directive. I don’t feel questions when I sit near my Lord. Oh, I may have them, but He is the God of answers not questions. That makes me feel pretty safe. I start to understand that confusion and questions lead me to try and answer and solve. However, if I remember that God is the God of answers and not questions, then I find myself being able to better hear Him. He calms the storm; he doesn’t stir it.