The Good of Hard Times

Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Job said, God maketh my heart soft. Job was saying that He was softening his heart through trials. It was not that Job had a hard heart, but God needed a soft heart so that he could do greater things through his life.

Why does God allow us to go through hard times? The answer is that He allows us to go through them to make our heart soft. I have learned that the more trials that I face, the softer my heart becomes. The death of my mother has made my heart softer towards those who lose a loved one. The incarceration of my dad has made my heart soft towards those who have a loved one incarcerated in prison. The struggles of life that God sends my way softens my heart so that I can be a better help to those who go through the same struggles. We may ask, cannot God make our heart soft in another way? No! However, there are some great benefits to God choosing to make our heart soft through the hard times. Let me share these benefits with you.

First, God dwells with the soft-hearted. Isaiah 57:15 says, For thus saith the high and lofty One…I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.… God does not make us go through the hard times alone. You will never know God’s presence greatly until you go through hard times, because in those times, you will discover His presence walking with you to help you.

Second, God is there to save the soft-hearted in their time of need. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. God also says in Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. You will never know God's saving strength until you go through tough times, because it is God who saves you from that which is trying to hurt you.

Third, God teaches the soft-hearted. Psalm 25:9 says, The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. God uses the hard times to teach us lessons that will enable Him to use us in a greater way. Think about this: when you face trials, you are in the classroom of life, and the teacher is God. I would rather have God as my teacher in the tough times than to live a life of ease and never learn the lessons He needs to teach me so that I can reach my potential.

Fourth, God gives grace to the soft-hearted. Proverbs 3:34 says, …he giveth grace unto the lowly. You will never know the greatness of God's grace until you go through the tough times of life. I can promise you, to know His grace is what will show you the power of His comfort. Don't despise the hard times, because it is in those times you get to learn the tender care of our Saviour who gives us grace to shield us from the harshness of those times.

The purpose of these hard times is found in Isaiah 61:3 which says, that he might be glorified. At the end of all of the hard times that we face, you will find that God will be glorified in our lives if we allow Him to make our heart soft. The hard times of life will either make your heart soft so God can be glorified in your life, or they will harden your heart and make you bitter. Let the hard times of life be the tool God uses to help you see His wonderful hand working in your life so that He may be glorified in your life.