When Faith and Life Collide

Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you.  Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.

This is a promise many of us have heard.  We want to believe it’s true, so how do we handle it when our circumstances seem to prove otherwise? Is this evidence that the Bible isn’t true? I contend that’s not the case.  Perhaps we’ve overlooked a piece of the puzzle. Maybe there’s something we haven’t considered.

Nowhere does it tell us how God plans to do to prosper us, or what that looks like. Nor does it tell us when.  It does say He’ll give us hope for the future.   That’s where faith comes in. Faith that God will fulfill his promise to us. And perseverance until we see how God works it through.

When it comes to many things in my life, I recognize that it takes time to see the fruit(s) of my labor. Building up a retirement account, deepening relationships with friends and family, or growing a garden, doesn't happen overnight.  It takes time, perseverance and commitment on my part to see it through to the end. 

So, why do we expect God to answer our prayers right away?  Because He can?  Fair enough, but what if He takes His time so that we grow in the process?  That’s been a tough lesson for me to learn, and I find I have to re-learn it many times over.  But God has proven that He’s faithful and has my best interest in mind, even when I can’t see it. 

How about you? What have you seen God do in times of hardship that you could only recognize after time had passed? How do you handle it in the meantime?

Total Trust in Your Master

I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. Psalm 52:8

Tommy lies on his back here asking for a tummy rub, which he loves.  It makes him completely relax, as if he’s in “doggie heaven.” 

But he’s also 100% vulnerable here.  His neck, chest, and stomach are completely exposed and could be attacked, resulting in severe wounds, or even death. Because he trusts us, and knows we love and care for him, that doesn’t even cross his mind. 

Do you trust God?  Most Christians automatically answer “Yes” or “Of course.” But do you really trust Him? Are you willing to do whatever he says, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone into the unknown?  These questions challenge me, but sometimes God arranges my life to stretch me and make my faith grow.  Can anybody else relate?

God Pursues Us

But Jonah ran away from the LORD Jonah 1:3

I was so confused, so angry, so depressed.  Everything in my life had turned upside down.  For years, I’d worked to make my life better, but despite all I did, nothing changed.  Maybe they never would.

Having grown up in the church, I knew God was all-powerful, and all-knowing. So the disability threw me into a tailspin, spiritually.  “If you’re all-powerful, and all-knowing, why would You let this happen?  Why didn’t you prevent me from having a stroke?” I asked. It didn’t make any sense.  Instead, it made me angry. 

I pulled away from God.  Though I continued to attend church, I checked out mentally—unable to make myself listen to anything He might have to say to me.   Week after week, month after month.  The more time passed, the further I got from Him. 

But God didn’t let me go.  He used the height of the storm to make me return to Him, just as He did with Jonah.  Having hit bottom, both emotionally and spiritually, I nearly threw it all away.  And that scared me.  My faith was my lifeline.  If I let that go, I had nothing left. Risking potential ridicule or rejection, I talked to a close friend, sharing some emotions I’d locked deep inside that threatened to destroy me. 

Thankfully, she listened and showed that she cared.  Over and over, she was there for me.  She pointed me to others who took me further along the path of healing.  It was long road, full of twists and turns, but I took one step at a time. Over time, with the help of others, I reached the point where my relationship with God was restored. 

I had to make a choice.  I could’ve remained in my self-protective, isolating cocoon, avoiding potential disapproval from others.  It would’ve been the easy way out.  But I’d have missed the growth and healing God had for me.  I had to take a risk for God to work in me. In the process, He drew me back to Himself and showed me He’ll never let me go, even when I try to run away.