When Tough Times Come, Believe God - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 4
When Tough Times Come, Believe God
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
It’s easy to say, but when it comes down to it, do we really believe God works all things together for our good, including job losses, broken relationships, natural disasters, accidents, car and appliance breakdowns, bumps, bruises, sicknesses, and more?
To think God works horrible and awful things for our good is hard for us to digest and comprehend. It doesn’t make sense to us, or seem possible, and seems to go against the loving, sacrificial God we know.
Yet, lately, doesn’t it seem like the Lord is nudging us to take Him at His word and truly believe that He really will work all things together for our good? Remarkably, what we’ll find when we choose to believe His promise, is freedom and relief from fear, worry, regret, and so much more.
For most of us, it seems we know the Scripture verse and want to believe it when hard things happen, yet it’s difficult for us to grasp and hold onto it during challenging times, where we’re experiencing loss and pain, and it’s easy for us to fall into fear and worry about how we are going to get through it and what might be coming next.
As well, we deal with the pain and grief that accompanies situations, causing many of us, to feel defeated, without hope, vulnerable, and helpless to fix our situations.
Even during major events, including natural disaster, loss of loved ones, job lay-offs, and more, we can experience the peace that comes with the Holy Spirit, reminding us of God’s promise to work it for our good, even the things that aren’t at all good in themselves.
High Fever Leads to Lifesaving Care
Recently, a close friend visited the hospital emergency room with a very high fever of unknown origin. Unable to pinpoint its cause, the physician admitted her to the hospital. Two days later, she passed out, nearly going into a dangerous cardiac arrest with what’s termed “the Widow-maker,” because of its high mortality rate.
Had she not been admitted to the hospital, but at home or out and about at the time, the blockage of the largest artery to her heart would most likely have taken her life that day.
Yet, rather, God had her right where she needed to be to receive immediate lifesaving care. Although the high fever wasn’t good, how God worked it for her good was good.
God’s Plans for Us Are Good
As Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims, God has good plans for our lives. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
God loves us more than we love ourselves, and although we would do almost anything to keep from experiencing hard things in life, He knows that some things are only worked out and developed in us through tough stuff, a truth we don’t want to accept or believe.
In this life, many of us have had times when we may ask God “why is this happening?” and “what good could possibly come out of this?”, not understanding why God would allow us to go through such hardships, losses, disappointments, and more.
Yet, God loves us, through it all, even when we don’t understand, and as hard as it may seem during those times to do, we can choose to trust Him, remembering God promises that “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you or your family currently going through tough times? If so, believe God has good plans, despite your current circumstances. Ask Him to help you believe that He will somehow, someway, bring good from your losses, sorrows, and difficulties.
Further Reading:
Will God Really Work All Things Together for Our Good?
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/imtmphoto
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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