Have you ever cried out to God with those words?  Maybe in anger?  Perhaps in exhaustion? Or despair?

If you’ve ever experienced the cumulative effect of multiple body blows, you have likely expressed these same emotions.  We all know life can be hard.

And as a refresher, the loss isn’t necessarily a death.  It could be a cancer diagnosis or a job loss or a relationship meltdown.  And it’s quite likely your “train” of losses is very much a mixed bag, covering a wide variety of challenges.

I have absolutely said these words to God through the years, and once again in the recent past.  I’ve also rubbed shoulders with others lately who are practically buried with an onslaught of difficult circumstances.  Enough to bring one to one’s knees.

Heartbreaking to experience.  Heartbreaking to watch.

Knowing God’s character, I’m sure he has always spoken to me during these times of desperation, but I’m not always the listener I should be.

That all changed with my latest wave of difficulties, when I said those exact words in our title today.

But this time, something was different.  This time, when God spoke to me, I actually listened.

Before I share with you God’s clear message during this lament, I want to reiterate what I know to be true in my own life, and what is one of the pillars of this grief ministry.

God does his best and most permanent work through our trials.

I have lived this reality and it’s one of the ways that I help others process their pain – with an eye towards what God wants to accomplish in our lives through these trials he’s designed specifically for us.  If you missed last week’s blog on that topic, check it out here.

I will even go so far as to say that our difficult seasons are the only times we truly learn deep truths from God.  The kinds of revelations that can change how we look at our lives, and how we view God.

So with that understanding in mind, let me share a little dramatization of how this short, but powerful, conversation with God played out recently. Keep in mind, this isn’t a word for word transcript, but it represents essence of this exchange.

Me: “Really, God?  Another loss?

God: “Do you want to grow in your Christian walk?”

Me:  “Uhhhhh …”

God: “Because if you don’t, I could protect you from additional pain, but you will never gain any new insights from me.  Nor will you experience my healing power.”

Me: “Well, if you put it that way, I guess I shouldn’t be questioning the difficulties you drop into my life.”

God: “Now you’re starting to get the picture.”

I realize that God isn’t going to stop challenging us in this life simply because we tell him we’re content to stay where we are on that journey.  But I began to understand the inappropriateness of my question (demand?) of God.

The “finished” product we become at the end of this life is the cumulative result of how open we’ve been to God’s hand of instruction or correction – and ultimately comfort and spiritual growth – through our most difficult seasons.

As much as I’d love to avoid any more of those multiple body blows, I desire even more that God would reveal to me a brand-new insight or perspective.

Never forget that it’s God’s strength that sees us through the cascade of troubles we’re experiencing.  When we feel that we couldn’t possibly take ONE. MORE. LOSS,  camp out on this promise straight from God’s heart:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9