I’ve been texting with a good friend over the past few months as she walks with her husband through a fairly serious medical situation. It’s the result of a very rare surgical complication, compounded by severe reactions to the treating medication. It’s exhausting, with extremely slow progress being made. It’s the kind of situation I would label as “relentless.” Each day they wake up to the same reality, knowing the road ahead is long and tedious with no assurance that it will be completely resolved.
It did remind me a bit of the year 2013 when Dale and I had a similar season we walked through. So I could relate to some of what she was experiencing. But, of course, I’m looking from the outside in, not walking through it as she and her husband are right now.
Maybe for that reason, some of her text statements to me practically jumped out of my phone – in a good way. Here’s just a sampling of some of what she wrote to me:
- “Just pushing through each day and praying for little improvements each week. God is faithful and good and is allowing us to see those.”
- “Praising God through it all, and reinforcing our faith every day, on the hard days as well as the good ones.”
- “When I look back on the painful, difficult and hard-to-understand times in our lives. I know that they are times of growth, and we’re both thanking the Lord for that.”
- “Our goal is to draw closer to the Lord, become more like Him, draw closer to each other, and get well!”
Wow! Aren’t those statements just dripping with faith and trust in God? You might ask, “How can someone be so grateful for going through one of the hardest times in their lives?”
I have an answer for that. Actually it’s God’s answer, not mine. I have written about this a bit in the past, but this series of text messages inspired me to be more deliberate about the message I hear loud and clear from this friend.
The reason they are able to praise God through this long, difficult trial, and the reason they are grateful for all that he is doing in their lives THROUGH it, is simple. And foundational.
It’s because they both put complete trust in the character and promises of God. They have a solid foundation with their Maker and know that whatever he brings them through will eventually be for their good – even if, and especially if, they don’t see it now.
During our difficult year, I often cried out to God, “I hate this. But I trust you.” That’s all I had. But it was enough.
Whether your trial is minor and temporary, or whether it is monumental and never-ending, or somewhere in between, the solution is the same. And my message to you, regardless of whether you are in a trial now or not, is the same. In fact, if you’re NOT going through a trial, this might be even more important for you.
Get your theology in place now so you’re prepared when trials hit.
It’s something I’ve said to countless people over these past few years as I’ve come to understand even more deeply how critical this is.
Theology sounds like an uber-religious word, but it is simply what you believe about God. If you don’t think you could say words like my friend wrote to me, or if you can’t honestly say you fully trust God, then I encourage you to spend time in the Bible. Search for stories that show time and time again how God ALWAYS keeps his word to his people. He CAN be trusted, no matter what our circumstances are.
If you don’t know how to start that process, contact me. Or talk with your pastor, or another Christian friend. You don’t have to add the heavy load of doubt on top of whatever heartache your trial has brought into your life.
Rather than end with scripture, I want to close with a verse and chorus from one of my favorite old hymns, “The Solid Rock.”
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
Amen! May this be the song in YOUR heart today!
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