So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36
Struggles are real and our questions about them are not easily answered. We try to use reason, long study or empty prayers, but those who are hurting see through our attempts to comfort this way. There are no quick answers to pain. In the midst of our difficult times – times of confusion and loss of hope – our outlook can become skewed as we are consumed by our circumstances.
We wonder if we can really do this. Can we have real, effectual faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even when times are hard?
Can we do as He has called us to do?
Can we process and get beyond what is behind us?
Can we go through what lies ahead?
When we are in need of real hope, we need wise council, not shallow connections and ineffectual sound bites. We need more reality, the reality of what is God telling us in the here and now so we can move ahead. So, what can we do?
We need to realize that Christianity is about who Christ is and what He has done, not about us and our lives.
We have to recognize two truths: that Christ is Lord, and that life is unjust. So what can we do when we feel beat up, confused and fearful? Look to the One who saves!
Look through the floods of fear and the rains of confusion and start to really see who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. When we focus on him, we can have full confidence, trust, and assurance. We can seek a life that is about trusting and obeying despite difficulty, so we can live out lives of hope and purpose. We can become a reflection of his work to others. After all, what is faith really about? Is it about me and my life or about Christ and the new life He brings me?
The key to dealing with these issues is taking to heart that when life is at its darkest, God is there.
Jesus understands our pain and he is loving and carrying us through it. We need to accept the fact that God is in control, even if we do not understand how. It is by faith that we can endure and then learn from trials, becoming better for it.
We can place such faith in him because of the assurance we have through his word, even when we do not understand. Our true home and purpose is not here; it is still to come. One day, we will be called to our true home in eternity, in heaven.
So, let us cling to the hope we have in Christ, not the things we experience or the losses we have endured!
If you are going through a time of pain or trial, here are some more comforting verses for you. Please let us know how we can pray for you as well, and let us encourage one another. Psalm 31:9; Psalm 119:50; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:18; James 1:2-3; John 9; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Hebrews 10:34; Revelation 21:4
Check out an earlier post by Dr. Richard Krejcir here.
