It Was Necessary: Trusting God’s Hand in Life’s Storms

Have you ever faced a situation so gut-wrenching, so utterly devastating, that you found yourself asking, Why me, Lord? It’s as if the ground beneath you gave way, and life dropped you into a storm you didn’t sign up for. I’ve been there—probably more times than I’d like to admit. But you know what I’ve learned? As painful, uncomfortable, and chaotic as it feels, sometimes it was necessary.

Let me explain.

We often see situations, people, or challenges in our lives through a lens clouded by emotion. That betrayal? Unnecessary. That heartbreak? Completely avoidable. That financial struggle? A cruel twist of fate. But while we’re staring at the pieces of what we thought life should look like, God is weaving them together for something far bigger and far better.

When the Lord Allows a "Necessary"

God’s version of necessary is different from ours. To us, necessary means comfortable, logical, and painless. To Him, it means purposeful, transformative, and ultimately for our good.

Think about Joseph from the Bible. His brothers betrayed him, threw him into a pit, and sold him into slavery. Later, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. If anyone had a reason to shout, This is not necessary, Lord!, it was Joseph. Yet, in Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

That betrayal? That pit? That prison? It was necessary. Not because God wanted Joseph to suffer but because He had a plan that required Joseph to go through the hard stuff to fulfill his purpose.

When Necessary Hurts

It’s not easy to hear that the pain we’re going through might be part of God’s plan. We’d much rather avoid the heartbreak, skip the struggle, and fast-forward to the good part. But here’s the truth: God isn’t just the author of mountaintop moments. He’s also the God of the valley, the storm, and the wilderness.

Sometimes, God allows the storm to get our attention. Maybe we’ve strayed from His path, or maybe He’s trying to break something in us that’s holding us back. It could be pride, fear, complacency, or even an unhealthy attachment.

Other times, the necessary is about positioning. God may be preparing you for a role, relationship, or responsibility that requires you to grow in ways you never would if life stayed easy.

Trusting God's Plan

I know it’s hard. When you’re in the middle of the storm, the last thing you want to hear is, This is for your good. But here’s the thing: God never wastes pain. He sees the bigger picture. He knows what He’s doing, even when we don’t.

In Romans 8:28, Paul reminds us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Not some things. Not easy things. Not happy things. But all things.

That includes the heartbreak. The setback. The rejection.

The Beauty of Surrender

So, what do we do when life hands us a necessary we didn’t ask for?

1. Lean into God. Instead of running from Him in frustration, run to Him. Let Him be your anchor, your comfort, and your guide.

   
   

2. Ask for His perspective. Pray for the wisdom to see the situation as He does.

   
   

3. Stay faithful. Keep trusting, keep praying, and keep walking, even when you can’t see the way forward.

   
   

4. Embrace the growth. Let God do His work in you. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.

   
   

It Was Necessary

Looking back on my own life, I can see so many moments that felt unbearable at the time. Relationships that fell apart. Opportunities that slipped through my fingers. Seasons of loneliness, struggle, and doubt. But now, with the clarity of hindsight, I can say with confidence: It was necessary.

God wasn’t punishing me. He was pruning me. He wasn’t abandoning me. He was preparing me. And what I thought was breaking me? It was actually building me.

If you’re in the middle of your own storm right now, I want to encourage you to pause and reflect. Could this be God’s necessary for your life? Could He be using this to realign you with His plan, grow you in ways you never imagined, or bring you closer to Him?

Take heart, my friend. The storm won’t last forever, and when it’s over, you’ll see the beauty in what God was doing all along.

A Prayer for the Necessary

Heavenly Father,Thank You for being a God who sees the big picture when we only see the pieces. Help us to trust You in the storms of life, even when we don’t understand. Give us the strength to endure, the faith to believe, and the wisdom to grow. Lord, if this season is Your necessary for us, we surrender to Your will. Shape us, prune us, and prepare us for the good plans You have in store. We trust that in Your hands, even the hardest moments can be turned into something beautiful.

Amen.