How many times have we wondered…Why? Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? Why are there wars and famine? Why can’t people just tell the truth? Why do wicked people seem to prosper? Why did I lose my job? Why did my spouse die at such a young age? Why did my wife/husband walk out on me and our kids? Why did I lose both my parents in the same year? Why??
Life’s hardships are perplexing. There are no simple answers to the multiple struggles we face on this earth. God reminds us that in this world we will experience trouble, hardship, suffering and loss but to not lose hope!
John 16:33 (NIV) reminds us.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Peace amid trouble is what God promises. He doesn’t guarantee He will remove the trouble, though sometimes He may choose to do so, but He does promise to walk with us through the turmoil.
Amid great stress, hardship, loss, and infirmities we have Hope, Peace and Assurance that God Himself walks with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. When I have gone through extremely trying circumstances, a song from the 1990’s often has come to mind: Trust His Heart by Babbie Mason. Here are a few of the lyrics.
All things work for our good, though sometimes we don’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us, His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim, and you just can’t see Him, remember you’re never alone.
He sees the Master plan. He holds the future in His hand.
So don’t live as those who have no hope, all our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly, but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry He’s weaving you and me to someday be just like Him, oh…
God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, Trust His Heart.
Today if you are facing what seems to be insurmountable obstacles, hold fast to God’s promises and be reminded, He walks with you!
II Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Pastor Keith