What Did I Do to Deserve This?

 Doing nothing wrong, our happy-go-lucky, friendly little dog wanted to introduce himself to someone new in the neighborhood, and the skunk sprayed him for his efforts. Scout ran inside stinking, seeking help, and drooling on the only rug in the house. Bad things happen to good people (even animals), and often we don’t understand why God allows such things.

As God’s children, we are to resemble our Father at all times: “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). In His teaching, Jesus said to do good towards those who wrongfully treat us—love them, pray for them. We are to trust our Father when life’s challenges and heartaches run into our lives. Without distinction, God allows sunny days and rainy ones to fall on those who are good and evil, the just and unjust. He knows the heart of every person and pardons whom He will. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:7–9); His strategy and purposes are beyond our understanding. God said vengeance belongs to Him, not us. He holds all things in His hands, and we must trust He honors His Word, or we will be most miserable. Oddly, I thanked God for allowing Scout’s stink. Why? Join me tomorrow for the answer.