Making sense of life...especially when it is hard.

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1ebd189e/making-sense-of-life-especially-when-its-hard

Some days it seems life just might get the better of us. We make it over one hurdle only to face another right on its heels. Hmmm, how to keep on keeping on, rather than merely hanging on--because truth be told, anyone can just hang on--but me, I've said it before, I want to be an overcomer. Jesus said, ‘In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’1 In Jesus, you and I are meant to be over comers. It is in God we put our trust and find our hope.

Some say God just wants his children to be happy, even telling us we deserve it—I do not find that in my Bible. Christians live in the same broken world that the rest of humanity inhabits; therefore, we are not immune to sickness, heartache, wildfires or financial struggle. But we have the strength of God upon which to call. God calls us to trust him, and to follow and obey him, bearing in mind always that his heart toward us is good. Knowing that about his character compels me to want to love him more, walk with him, follow him, and be in relationship with him--and well, my relationship with him makes all the difference in the world! Especially when facing another hurdle.

One of my favorite old hymns is ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness.’ (It was in my last Morning Briefing) I remember standing next to my mama in church while she unabashedly sang out, paying no attention to those who noticed she was totally off key. She sang those words like she meant them, because she did; she had experienced the faithfulness of God in her life. We do well to look at the biblical inspiration for the song from the little-referenced book of Lamentations:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; “great is your faithfulness!”2 Ah, yes.

So often we acquaint ourselves with a particular verse or verses, such as these that form the beautiful song celebrating God’s faithfulness, only to miss nearby verses that are equally powerful. Today I take comfort from these words bumped up against the old hymn lyrics, also penned by the prophet Jeremiah:

“I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion (my inheritance) ;

therefore I will wait for him.’

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”3

There it is again—out of Lamentations, the Lord is good—and believing that, well—it changes everything! Therefore, nothing that happens, nothing that comes our way, can change or alter the fact that God’s heart toward us is oh, so good, and because of that, we can trust him.

You see, life is going to happen. There will be heartache, there will be setbacks, pain, disappointment and loss; all are parts of our human condition. As I write, I know of parents crying out to God to heal their daughter from a pain no doctor can touch, families who are broken--grown siblings not speaking to each other, and still others who are battling addiction, mental illness, sexual confusion and despair.

These things are real, no matter who we are, and no matter that we belong to God. But here’s the thing--we followers of Jesus can draw on the power and strength of God; we are not left to our own devices, bearing in mind that "the Lord is good to those who hope in him," as we read in Lamentations three.

Our strength lies in God's promise that we will never have to go it alone. In both the Old and New Testaments, God assures that he will never dessert us.4

When Joshua had a herculean task in front of him, God said to him,

“This is my command--be strong and courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."5

As those who walk with God, we also know how the story ends—one day our faith will be made sight; that is, we will see God face-to-face--and then we will be with him forever! And then life will definitely make sense because our loving Father will set all things straight.

Until then ... be courageous. When the battle is tough, we have an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, learn more about his heart for us, rest in His arms.

The Jesus I Know is different when my heart aches, because in my weakness, he is close, and when he is close, I know how very strong he is.

Listen: THE JESUS I KNOW NOW - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU4RqJ8jfBc

Christine

1 John 16.33

2 Lamentation 3.22-23

3 Lamentations 3.24-25

4 Hebrews 13.5

5 Joshua 1.9