A Reason

On Monday morning I woke up early to get a good start to my day. There was a lot of dirty washing, so I thought I would get a load on straight away before my quiet time. I put a load in, poured the washing powder in, and pressed the on button. But when I moved the knob to the right cycle, nothing happened. So I tried pushing buttons and turning the knob again, and still nothing. I turned it off and tried again. Same thing. Oh no, not this again! We got a new washing machine only 6 months ago when our old one broke down. I didn't want to go back to the laundromat again. I left it and went and had a coffee and some quiet time. A stressed quiet time!  Half an hour later, I tried the washing machine again. Still not working. 
I remembered my husband had used it last. Could he have done something? But what could he do? Did he break it? Surely not! 
So I rung my husband, reluctantly explained what had happened and asked him if I should call the electrical man.
 He explained to me that it was on child lock!! He had meant to tell me, but it had slipped his mind as I was out when he had used it. 
"Oh, well please tell me next time! That was a bad start to my day!" I should have rung him straight away. Anyway, it was a relief and a little humorous to know that it was not broken, and after pressing the right buttons it was working!
There was a very simple reason for my problem. And all of life's problems have a reason. I already know this, but I often forget. It would save us a lot of frustration to remember that every difficulty, grief, struggle and trouble has a reason. Most of the time we don't know the reason. But we do know that if we love God, all things work together for good. And the next verses says (Romans 8:29)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..." That is one reason for troubles--to become like Jesus.
Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 12:10
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: 
for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Another reason--when we have troubles, we have to depend on God and God shows us His strength.
There is a reason our little girl has heart problems and Down Syndrome. There is a reason for my miscarriages. There is a reason for all the things that make me desperate for God's help. What a difference it makes to remember this.
And just like I should have rung my husband straight away, we should stay in close contact with God. He may not tell us the reason, but He will strengthen, comfort and encourage us.