Toddlers are notorious for throwing temper tantrums. When things do not go their way, they cry and yell hysterically. They punch and hit things. They throw themselves on the floor and refuse to go any farther until their demand is met. I know many of you would not tolerate such behavior from your child. But the truth is temper tantrums are not found in one specific age group. Many adults have been known to throw tantrums, especially when it comes to God.

Let us say that you purchase a beautiful home. It is the house of your dreams. It has everything you could ever want plus some. But four years down the road, life happens. You lose your job. And although your spouse is working, the remaining income is not enough to cover all of the expenses. You have gone four months without paying your mortgage and the bank decides to take action.

You are weeping profusely over the impending foreclosure. You are begging and pleading with God to intervene somehow. But sooner rather than later the inevitable happens and you lose the house of your dreams. You are officially angry with God. Your prayers didn’t seem to make it to God’s heavenly throne. And it didn’t matter how much you cried, it felt like God completely ignored you. You are enraged. You are punching walls – mad at the world because the God that you have been serving for years did not intervene. As a result of your misery, you refuse to take another step in this journey of life with God.

But Luke 12:15 tells us, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”(ESV) In other words, life extends beyond the material world. So what if you lose a house, a car, or a job. Do you not know that all of these things can be replaced easily? Life is not about making more money, or becoming well known, or having more power. Life is about fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. God created you for a reason. Discovering your purpose unlocks the true meaning of life.

Don’t get bogged down when things don’t go your way. Accept the fact that everything happens for a reason. And even though everything is not “God sent”, it is “God used.” Sometimes the Lord allows the devil to afflict us for a season. But the Lord is always faithful to take what the enemy means for bad and turn it around for His good and perfect will. Being a Christian is not about living a life full of permanent bliss. Our struggles are opportunities to mature and grow into the person that God has created us to be.

We can never truly understand the mind of God. It is difficult to comprehend what He is doing at times. But nevertheless continue to trust in His infinite wisdom and learn to be okay with whatever comes your way. Because this, my friend, will keep you peaceful.