We humans learn our lessons the hard way. We have since the beginning. The best way to strip human beings of legalism, self-reliance, and pride is to bring us to the end of ourselves, so we can truly recognize our weaknesses and our need for God.
After that, we know. But often, we are then afraid.
Like Elijah, we run and hide in caves, or we wrestle in the desert, thrashing and fighting with God like Jacob. Like the disciples, we tear away into the dark of night, lest we too be taken. We stare at one another, terror rising in our throats when we realize what we’ve lost.
As C.S. Lewis wrote: “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”
This is me. Maybe this is you, too.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, our family faced tragedy, heartache, financial ruin, and the early beginnings of my chronic disease. I became angry at God. I didn’t understand. Surely, I reasoned, these things didn’t happen to Christians. But yet, they had.
Those events compelled me to dig deeper into God’s Word. I needed to know him more thoroughly. I sought more depth than platitudes could offer.
Struggling to comprehend the whys, I threw myself into theological study and increasing self-reflection. I strove to comprehend two types of trial: hardship brought as a result of God’s discipline and hardship brought for reasons we may never know.
Both hurt. And both are always involved in our trials, for none of us are perfect. We are constantly in need of refining. Thus, we may never know exactly why.
With this solid underpinning of decades in God’s Word, my illness worsened, and we recently relocated cross country. During the home inspections, mold was discovered in our attic. We openly disclosed everything. The Golden Rule always applies.
As a result, we lost decades of the accrued principle of home ownership. But, in answer to our prayers, the house sold, and we were able to pay off our mortgage. We walked away with nothing, arriving at our new location two years before retirement.
But we had grown. This time, I didn’t react in anger, but rather in gratitude.
Belief doesn’t mean we’ll never get sick or suffer loss. Belief means we know that God is with us in it, no matter what. Faith informs us that God is orchestrating both good and bad for the purpose of making us more like Christ, the type of people he always intended us to be.
Belief doesn't mean we'll never get sick or suffer loss. Belief means we know that God is with us in it, no matter what. Click To TweetFaith has nothing to do with emotions. Faith is stepping forward as if God’s promises are true and his character proven. Because they are.
Faith has nothing to do with emotions. Faith is stepping forward as if God's promises are true and his character proven. Because they are. Click To TweetThe Jewish nation was carried into captivity and resettled in a pagan land because of their sin. As sinners we are like them, constantly in need of refinement.
Job was described by God as “blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.” Like Job, we are called blameless in Christ, but also like Job, we are learning to let go, to trust God, and to allow God to be God – uncontrollable and above our comprehension.
In all our trials, there’s always the need to repent and grow, and there’s also the need to believe that God’s kindness and providence will orchestrate it for our good.
In all our trials, there's always the need to repent and grow, and there's also the need to believe that God's kindness and providence will orchestrate it for our good. Click To TweetIn my current study of Isaiah, I see God repeatedly reassuring his people when they have doubts and fears. He isn’t impatient with them. He isn’t angry. He affirms his love and care.
He speaks to their fears: Do not be afraid. Trust me.
As the Jewish nation returned from their captivity, they repeatedly questioned whether they could trust God. He had foretold their captivity, and millions of them had been slaughtered, decimating their families and destroying their homeland. Yet, God had also promised to bring them safely home again. And he had. What a quandary!
And so, the Lord answered them with his ultimate proof of love and commitment – his promise to become one of us, to suffer while having done nothing wrong, and to entrust himself as a human being into the hands of a Father who can be trusted.
In their doubt and fear, God revealed to his people the coming Servant, Jesus Christ. He began specifically to detail this One, the One we now lean on, because in whatever trial, he has suffered the same. He knows us. He is with us in it. He loves us.
We learn from Christ’s example how to respond to our own trials. We walk in his steps. With eyes on Christ, in trial and in blessing, we grow to become more like him. Jesus is our God, and whether we’re hiding in the cave or wrestling him in the darkness, he never forsakes us. In even this, he uses it all for our good. Trust him. Rely on our God.
Jesus is our God, and whether we're hiding in the cave or wrestling him in the darkness, he never forsakes us. In even this, he uses it all for our good. Trust him. Rely on our God. Click To Tweet
Going through the loss of a beloved pet–at a young age. Thanks for these beautiful reminders that he loves us. Heaven is ahead where we will never feel this way again.
That’s great consolation, isn’t it! Thanks for commenting, Nancy.
“Faith has nothing to do with emotions. Faith is stepping forward as if God’s promises are true and his character proven. Because they are.” So powerful, Melinda. None of us enjoy hardships, but we we realize God sees us through, no matter what, it softens the blow. thanks for this powerful reminder.
Thanks for commenting, Karen! Your words are always uplifting.
Amen. Belief means we know God is with us in all situations. That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect at all times. Through each rough experience I have dealt with in my life, God has given me opportunity to go to Him for peace.
He really is our only source of peace in those times, isn’t he! Thank you for commenting, Melissa.
Great reminder that life will not be perfect just because we are Christian. Over the years, we bad events occur, I try to look back over my life to see God’s hand on my life. He always is there, He might not stop the problem but over time He brings me to a better place. God is faithful.
I think this is one of the biggest blessings of aging – a longer record of God’s faithfulness strengthens our faith because of all the things he has carried us through.
Dear Melinda!
Yes, we sure do learn our lessons the hard way. I believe in that, too.
What you wrote here made me think of the times when I have been under pressure and situations where I have been angry at God because I didn’t understand what happened in my life.
Most of the time I came out on the other side stronger from those situations.
I liked what you said about the need for refinement. That’s a good observation.
You said: Faith has nothing to do with emotions. Perhaps I would go a step further and say that it has nothing to do with us. Many Christians will say. Oh, you need to choose to believe in Jesus, or something like that. To me, it doesn’t make sense to say like that. If I believe in Jesus, which I do, then it is because He has done something that I find worthy of believing in, the same way as I believe in a politician. He can earn my trust, but it does make sense to say that I choose to believe because the matter is not in my hands.
Thank you for being consistent with your encouragements in the Christian online community.
With love!
Edna Davidsen
That’s a terrific insight, Edna. I so agree with you! God acts, proving his faithfulness, and his Spirit also works on our hearts. Otherwise, we wouldn’t believe. It’s more about him than it is about us. You’re so right. I like your perspective. I wish we didn’t have to learn our lessons this way, but this seems to be the human norm. Hard things get our attention. They are what God can use the most powerfully in our lives.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Edna. I appreciate it!
I love how Jesus understands our trials because He went through the greatest of trials. What a great reminder that we must look to Jesus and how He handled trials when going through our own! Thanks for sharing your wisdom on this topic!
I agree! Trials that drive us into Jesus’ arms are such a blessing, because we understand in each one some depth of suffering he experienced in that same area. It’s wonderful to cry out to him from that place, knowing that he knows it all so well.
I want to read this over and over…first because it resonates the way only truth can, second because I myself have been shown similar conclusions, last because although I have been through a lot and know and trust that God is good even when life isn’t I needed to read this today. I needed to read this during a time when what I knew to be God’s plan has fallen apart. Thank you for the blessing of this – sharing everywhere. ❤️
Liz, thank you for commenting. I feel the emotion of your response. When we’re in the thick of it, these are the truths we must remember. In those circumstances we’re standing on the promises, knowing God’s Word and his ways are true, regardless of what we see falling apart around us. When what looked like God’s plan crumbles, we know that there is either a second act coming, a resurrection or rebirth on its way, or a turn to the next thing that remains to be revealed. Sometimes things are unclear. And in those times we fix our eyes on the Savior and let go of what we expected and hoped. He is good. He will bring his will to pass. He will. If it doesn’t come to pass, it wasn’t his will. Hard truth. But he can be trusted. All of life is this lesson. Grace be with you, sister!
I have been traumatized, frustrated and devastated since April 3rd when my only sibling left this world, there is no other consolation except as its found in the bible the hope and promise that there is a resurrection, life would not be the same again… I just follow the promises of JESUS day by day… Thank you for writing this
I’m so sorry for your loss, Kenna. The death of those we love is shattering, and this wound is fresh. Life on this planet is full of hardship and heartache. You are so right about our only consolation being in the truth of God’s promises and the solid fact of his Word, Jesus’ defeat of death by offering his own life and rising from the dead, his promise of resurrection for us when we are in him, and his pledge of never leaving us or forsaking us. There is no other hope. Without those promises to carry us through, it would often be impossible to face each day. I pray for consolation for you, for healing of the wound, for resting in Jesus day by day as you present your mourning to him and rest in his comfort.
This is such a tough lesson for me. Like, I get it, but then at the same time, I know that God can stop things if He wants. I always wonder what makes Him step in to do miracles and what makes Him allow tragedy. It makes me wonder why, why does He answer no sometimes and yes others and how do my prayers factor into the equation at all. “And we know that all things come together for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”
You captured so well the emotions we all feel in this situation. The incomprehensible fact is that God knows what the outcome would be should any and every possibility occur. With that wisdom, he then knows what to allow that is for the good of everyone involved. What will cause us to grow? What will make us more like Jesus? What will produce the essential outcome? We can’t possibly know this, and so we must trust the Lord. This is where our faith is tested and tried and formed. I love your comments, Brittany. You don’t shy away from the hard questions. Love you, sister.