We all do it. We blame the Devil for everything bad that happens in life, and give thanks to God for everything good. However, can we render a thought to you?  What if some of the storms  that have come your way were allotted by God himself? Would you consider him evil? Would lose faith in him? What if we told you that you had to go through, what you went through? In our walks with Christ, we often will ask God for a deeper connection with him. Or, sometimes we get complacent in our roles in ministry, our families, etc. When non-believers go through trials, we know they have no reassurance; no foundation. However, through the word of God, we become immovable. With wisdom, we can see clearly that even  if the storm is ,"God ordained,"  there is a greater purpose. Because we are spirit minded(Romans 8:4-5), we are able to understand that God is simply clearing a path for us to get closer to him. 

So many times in life we shun away from people, or experiences, that we have found to hurt us in some way or another. However, through history, wisdom, and the word of God, we know that, "...all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord..." (Romans 8:28)
Knowing that God is a spiritual being, we recognize that he uses humans to fulfill his purpose. Our leader, Pastor Sheila Blair, uses this analogy often:
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"For someone to get the oil out of an olive, the olive has to be crushed and pressed. The process remains the same in the spiritual realm with God. For us to be all he has designed, we have to go through our own crushing and pressing."

So many times we attempt to get away from what God is trying to use to make us better. Once we succumb to the power of God, and trust him fully, then we will be able to fulfill the purpose God put on our lives. Then, and only then, could we truly understand what is is meant by this quote:

"The person who has caused you the greatest humiliation, the greatest pain, the greatest suffering is also your greatest teacher, and we should be thanking that person."
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Thank you Pema Chodron!