Whatever is happening in your life as a believer, God knows what He is doing. Did you get that? God knows what He is doing! No matter what is going on, He has a purpose… a specific purpose… one that is tailored and designed for you. Here it is: He is conforming you to the image of Christ. He is growing you in your faith. He is accomplishing His will which is for you to be holy like He is holy.

Here is how to understand God’s progressive work in your life: 1) He brings/allows situations that get your attention to what He will do, 2) As a result of knowing what God is doing… you are able to be joyful, 3) Thus you can rest because God will exalt you in His time. Now the Scripture.

Ro 5:3 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Thus James 1:2)

Ja 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Therefore 1 Peter 5)

1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7  casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Those are the reasons for “Why this… why now?”