NOVEMBER 23, Romans 8:28

As Ashley carried the cat out of her bedroom, she met her mother in the hall. Mom smiled. “I see you’re up,” she said. “Do you feel better?”

“Not much,” said Ashley, “but Snowball jumped on top of Ziggy’s cage.” Ashley pointed behind her. “And look at my silly hamster. He’s climbing the cage like he wants to get out. Ziggy doesn’t even know there’s a cat out here waiting to catch him.”

Mom nodded. “He obviously doesn’t always know what’s best for him,” she said. “I’ll put Snowball out and you get back to bed. Would you like some milk?” Ashley nodded as Mom took the cat.

When her mother came back, Ashley was lying in bed staring glumly at the ceiling. “I don’t see why I had to get sick today,” she grumbled. “Our girls’ basketball finals are after school and I prayed all morning that I’d get well enough to play. Instead, my throat is still so sore and I feel lousy. It’s not fair.”

“I know it seems that way,” said Mom sympathetically, “but…” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Tell me – why didn’t you let your hamster out of his cage a few minutes ago?” “Let him out with Snowball still here?” asked Ashley. “Ziggy might have been eaten up!”

“Being in the cage kept him safe,” said Mom, “and sometimes the difficulties God lets us face keep us safe and free from worse trouble.” Ashley thought about Mom’s words. She shrugged. “I can’t see what kind of trouble being sick would be keeping me from today,” she said.

Mom smiled. “Your hamster probably didn’t see what trouble you were protecting him from, either – and maybe you wouldn’t have gotten into trouble today,” she replied. “God might be teaching you some other lesson, perhaps to be patient or to simply trust Him when you don’t understand why something happens. I don’t know why you’re sick today… but I do know God loves you and does what’s best for you – just like you did what was best for Ziggy.”

Ashley sighed, but she nodded. “I’ll try to remember that,” she said.

Thought: Do you blame God when you don’t like what happens to you? God knows what is best for you!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes I don’t like the situation I am in and wish they would change. And today, I learn that often, you put me through difficulties sometimes as that is best for me. So please teach me to trust in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.