When ‘bad’ things happen to us we are often confused as to why this bad thing is happening. We spend hours trying to figure out the answer, and most of the time, the answer never comes. Most try to find someone or something to blame and when we fail at this attempt, we blame God. He, at times, seems to be the only reasonable explanation. And if you do think God is involved in these terrible situations you find yourself in, well you might be closer to the truth than you realize.

But when it comes to life challenges, this is not so easily diagnosed.

Let’s dig into this is in a much more meaningful way. This will require some concentration and attention on our part. If we suffered from some physical ailment, we would rightly conclude that we have a disease or some type of virus and are in need of some medicine. This is simple enough. We don’t get confused about what is the disease and what is the medicine. But when it comes to life challenges, this is not so easily diagnosed.

Now let us look at this from the right angle.

We confuse what is the medicine and what is the illness. Let us take for example an alcoholic whose life is deteriorating to the point that he received a DUI and was placed in jail for a lengthy stay. As he sits there trying to figure things out, he concludes that more than anything else, he needs to get out of jail. To him, being in jail is the disease and the medicine is to get out. Now let us look at this from the right angle. In truth, his disease is his inability to stop drinking. Alcoholism. That’s the real problem. Realizing this, one might say, “you’re right Bill, so the medicine would be treatment or a program of recovery.”

Not so fast. We confuse what is the medicine and what is the illness.

You’re only half right.

Sure he needs a program, but in order for any program to work, he must first want to change and have a willingness and desire to get sober. This step must come first.

What would be the correct medicine for his unwillingness to change?

Yes sir, that is the medicine.

Pain. Pain is the best medicine for any alcoholic or addict that lacks the ‘want to’ to get clean and sober. Pain can melt away even the greatest unwillingness and produce the strongest desire for sobriety. Yes sir, that is the medicine. As a matter of fact, I cannot recall any alcoholic or addict that I have treated that wasn’t motivated by some type of pain. So to our friend in jail, we must help him to understand that the pain of jail is in fact, part of the medicine that will produce a cure if they allow it and God is willing.

Using the information from above, we now can look within and try to make sense of the “senseless suffering” that occurs in our lives. Spiritually speaking, let’s try to determine what is the disease and what is the medicine that cures.

An example from my own life: I was offered a scholarship to Washburn University after completing 2 years of college at a Junior College. I went to Topeka to secure a job and an apartment so I could accept the scholarship. I went all over that town trying to find a job and was turned down at every single interview. I even applied at a mental hospital to empty bedpans and was rejected!

I thought this was senseless suffering. So, I headed home with a very bruised ego. Coupled with disappointment and anger, I screamed at God. Why did this happen and for what reason? I was poor, I needed this scholarship, and I couldn’t pay my way through another two years of schooling.

Little did I know, at the time I was being turned down for all those jobs in Topeka, a much more remarkable job was waiting for me.

About two weeks after this heartbreaking ordeal, I received an offer from a hospital to begin an alcohol and drug treatment center in their facility. I couldn’t believe it! My entry into this field was to start a treatment center. I went on to do that, and it became a successful endeavor that still brings me pleasure when I think about it.

I needed every bit of skill and knowledge I could get about how to start and operate a treatment center.

No, the disease was my self-will and lack of faith.

What I didn’t know then was that another amazing opportunity was in my future. I would eventually take this skill and knowledge elsewhere to open up a treatment center in Wichita called Atishwin. This treatment center has lasted thirty-five years and has helped thousands of alcoholics and drug addicts. I thought the illness was not being able to accept the scholarship. I thought the medicine was to secure employment, thus allowing me to continue going to school. No, the disease was my self-will and lack of faith. This was evident by my unwillingness to accept the situation as being exactly the way it was supposed to be at that time.

What is the cure for this type of self-centered willfulness? Being turned down for every job applied for. There have been many of these types of experiences throughout my life and I am just now becoming willing to be grateful for them.

God loves those who He corrects

Let us try to realize that sometimes when what we consider to be bad things that happen to us are no more than a loving father trying to help us grow up. Just as you teach a child to share their toys by taking all the toys away until they learn to share. A child doesn’t see this correction as medicine for the disease of selfishness, but as you being a mean parent. As the child matures into an adult, they become thankful for all the pain (medicine) that you gave them. We too have a loving father who is preparing us for eternity. For this to become a reality, we must grow into the likeness of our father. God loves those who He corrects. Let us accept these corrections and try to discover the meaning behind the pain. And once discovered, don’t forget to thank Him.

 

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