How many times have you absolutely felt like you got a gut punch in life? I mean we all have trials and hard times, but what about those whoppers? The ones that leave us with a new delineation between every thing BEFORE and every thing AFTER this event. I have had my fair share, but I have also seen other people go through some really tough times that I did NOT want to be sharing. 
A world-class studio guitarist in Nashville had a studio fire and he lost “everything” in the fire. He posted several pictures but one stood out to me as he lined up the charred guitars along his wall. I couldn’t help but think of all the times I had seen him holding one of these guitars and he ALWAYS had a huge smile on his face. And now here are all these guitars – some of which are utterly irreplaceable – black and broken and burnt. I could only imagine how he must have been feeling.
Then there was the fire at my fathers Pharmacy that he and my mom had worked at and built for over 20 years…then overnight, someone tried to cut a hole in the back door with a welding torch and it ignited everything on fire that was on the other side. Again, what defeat he must have felt. So much work and effort now lying in smoldering piles of ash. In both of these cases, repairing things and going on was not an option – It was a complete start-over.
I know people probably mean well when they come up to you and say “You’ll be okay” or “Look at the bright side; it could have been worse” or “Everything happens for a reason” But personally, that just makes me want to smack these people! We can all appreciate some words of comfort or sympathy, but having your entire world shift from one thing to another is hard to stomach.
I went through a few things that I challenged God to show me anything remotely useful about what had happened. Sometimes, we may NEVER know the “reason” for something that happens. But I am here to tell you that I have seen some really sad and painful times that were redeemed by a lesson, or a major pivot that would have never happened had it not been for the extreme circumstances that were forced on us. I often imagine what a huge mess my life would be if everytime I had prayed for something, I got it. Rather than considering bad circumstances as some form of punishment or a result of a bad decision we made, it would be better to see how God is using these tough times to reveal something to us that will actually help us in the long run. I have seen Him make something from nothing more than once! Usually it is SO FAR from what I would have ever considered doing, it amazes me to think it might have been different. Usually meaning “worse” had I continued the path I was on, or if I had gotten what I was asking for.
When we are standing in the middle of the ash, or the ruin, or the remnants…it is not always easy to see purpose or anything positive about things. We need to trust that God might have a bigger plan or better way for us – even more than WE understand ourselves.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
-Proverbs 3:5-6