“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

—2 Corinthians 1:3–4

We all go through seasons that feel overwhelming—moments of loss, pain, and struggle. And often, our first question is “Why, God?” But as I’ve shared before, maybe that’s not the right question.

Instead, the better question is:

“Lord, what am I to learn in this season?”

Over the years, I’ve walked through more loss than I care to count—starting with a dear friend at 16, all the way through the many lives I’ve loved and had to let go. At first, it felt heavy, almost unfair. But looking back, I see something clearly now: God was preparing me. Not just to survive the pain, but to stand in the gap for others walking through their own.

I often say, jokingly but truthfully—there are things in life you don’t want to be proficient in. For me, grief and loss feel like areas I know too well. But I don’t sit in self-pity because of it. I praise God, because through every moment of pain, He comforted me. He strengthened me. He taught me how to endure with Him, and not without Him.

So I ask you today—what trial are you in? And are you still asking why?

Maybe it’s time to ask:

“God, what are You preparing me for?”

Because these trials are not just about you—they are preparing you to be someone else’s answer. To be the arms of Christ when someone else needs to be held. To be the voice of comfort when someone else feels alone. To be light in someone else’s darkness.

Don’t let your trials bury you in self-pity. Let them build you into someone stronger, wiser, more compassionate, and full of faith. God is shaping you to carry His love into someone else’s valley.

Stay in the Word. Stay in the fight. And remember—He is preparing you for something greater.

Be blessed today. Amen. 
 

-Rev Carlos Figueroa