There’s a Reason for this Season

Waiting Well

It seems like the past few weeks have been trying, to say the least. As much as I wish I could avoid hard times altogether, you and I both know, we just can’t. So instead of wishing they didn’t happen, I need to embrace them as a part of life.

Knowing that it is a fact of life, maybe I should change my outlook on them. Is it possible to be thankful while in difficult times? I admit my initial response to that question is that of Toy Story’s Forky, “What? No!!”

But the truth is, we can! It seems our trials are pointing to darkness and despair and void of hope, and yet, we can still find something positive to be grateful for when we try.

God never gives me something just to break me down and hurt me. (If that’s who you think God is, I have a blog coming soon to shed more light on the Abba Father of the Bible. 🤗) Everything happens for a reason.

So it is time to change my outlook.

My counselor challenged me to look at my obstacles as opportunities. “What is God trying to teach me?” “ How can I grow through this time?” “What is God doing?”

God is doing a work in me. In every situation, God is using it to grow me. While He works on me, He is also giving me the desire and the power to do … Whatever I want? No! “To do what pleases Him”. When I choose to trust God’s process, I am equipped with the desire and the power to bring Him honor and glory through it all.

This is so encouraging! Anxiety lies! But God never does. When I begin feeling those anxious thoughts, I need to remember, God has also given me the power to do what pleases Him.

The following verse goes on to describe how our response should be.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Philippians‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whoops… 😬🤦🏻‍♀️

Welp, no better place to start improving than the present.

Going through difficult times with a Christ centered outlook (which, again, He promises to give us) is what separates us from the nonbelievers. We are the lights! God has set us in the place in time so others can observe how our behavior in the face of trials is different.

God’s work in us has the potential for amazing things!!! We can go places, do things, and reach people that we had never thought possible. There are no “impossibles” for God. Even in my trepidations, isn’t it cool to think that each of us can do something incredible for God? There is a peace that comes from knowing that God sees the grand scheme and is working towards something more than we ask or even think.

Here is another motivational reason to glorify God even when it is hard:

Our children are watching. If you don’t have children, think about the children you are around. Kids are like sponges; they soak up everything around them. More so than words, they learn from our tones and actions. They duplicate our behaviors and responses. I will be the first to admit that what they copy from me is not always for the better.

As we go through tough times, we need to remember that each moment is a teaching opportunity. This does not come naturally for me. I tend to hide away in my room when I am feeling stressed, angry or hurt. Sometimes, it is necessary to cool off, so please, go somewhere alone to confess and cry out to God for help. But won’t it be more beneficial to the kids to see you stop what you’re all doing and pray together, as a family? What will they learn if you resolve conflicts in the correct way, in front of them?

It was during one of my panic attacks that I gave this a try. As I wept in front of my kids, I began expressing, as best as I could, and with age appropriate discretion, the lies that I was feeling. I concluded with the phrase, “But God is in control, and He has a reason”. A couple days later, as we exited the grocery store, trudging through the bitter Michigan snow and cold, my daughter began to complain. “I don’t like the snow. But, … God is in control, and He has a reason.” – GASP – God allowed me to see firsthand the result of living (and processing) trials in an upright way. It is our job to train them, in all areas, in the way they should go, so when they are old, they will not depart from them (Proverbs 22:6).

Sometimes, I know I won’t have the words to say. And that is 100% ok. May we show ourselves grace. Maybe what the current situation calls for is a sob session like David wrote. Throughout Psalm we read lament after lament and question after question. David is a great example of approaching the throne room, with all of our flaws, completely vulnerable before the Lord. But how does He conclude most of his prayers?

His questions remain unanswered and yet, the response is “I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again — my Savior and my God”.

David chose to place his hope in God. He knew that God was at work at something beyond His understanding. David chose to praise Him, despite the circumstances.

This week as trials come, I pray that you and I would view the season in a positive way. Please, if you think of it, pray for me as well. Especially since this is not my go to response, it will take some mental shifts for sure.

Remember, you are not alone. I am so grateful to each of your encouragement. And we have an almighty and all loving Father working in us, who will never leave us.