Seasons of life….that is what this blog is about. We, as humans, go through so many of them. Some are exciting, joyful, making memories we want to hold onto. Others are hard, hurtful, engraving things on our mind that we would rather forget. Life can be hard.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Because of that, we know that there will be appointed times of joy and appointed times of sorrow. Times for growing and times for resting. Times for working and times for just sitting still and letting God work. And that’s ok.
In those happy and easy times, it is easier to trust God, to have faith. It is easier to feel that we are seeing Him work and believe that He has a plan.
It is in those hard and trying times that we tend to lose sight of that. We cry out and ask God where He is in our circumstances. Even IF we still feel His presence we can sometimes question what He is doing or if He is doing anything at all. Oh, but sister He is!
In Hebrews 11:1 we are told that “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I love how the NIV states this verse: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (emphasis mine).
I was just on my face, crying out to my Father, asking Him to please do through me what I cannot do right now on my own because I feel frozen, weary. And I ended by telling Him that I trust Him. I trust Him with the circumstance I find myself in. I trust Him with this season of my life. I trust Him to work even though I can’t see what He is doing. I trust Him to work good through this circumstance, both in and for me and others.
Isn’t it so wonderful that God, in His great love for us and mercy, shows us exactly what He wants to tell us in His Word when we seek Him? He took me to Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (emphasis mine).
Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, in Experiencing God Day-By-Day, The Devotional and Journal, state this: “Your relationship with God is largely determined by your faith. When you come to Him, you must believe that He exists and that He is exactly who He has revealed Himself to be in Scriptures. You must also believe that He will respond to you when you earnestly seek Him.”
Oh, I believe that He exists we say! But do we earnestly believe that He will respond when we seek Him? He promises that if we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). So, in His Word He has revealed Himself to be a Father who will be found. On this earth we can’t always find what or who we are looking for. But God, the only true and living God, is a Promise Keeper, and He promises that He will be found by those who truly seek Him.
Those promises bring me such comfort!
So, when I cry out to Him in my times of uncertainty and pain I can trust Him. And if I trust Him I can know that He will respond to me when I seek Him. Furthermore, because He promises to work good through all things in my life if I love Him (Romans 8:28), then I can know that He will respond to my cries and work good in and for me in this season as well as for others around me who are hurting that love Him. Right here, right now. Even if I can’t see what He is doing.
I am so thankful for that! You will hear me say this a lot: He is a good Father who gives good gifts to His children (James 1:17).
1 John 3:1a says “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
I love the word “lavish” used here! When I am in a hard season and am reminded about the fact that God lavishes His love on me it is such a comfort. It helps me feel that it’s ok to rest, in Him.
So sister, if you find yourself in a season where everything is hard and you don’t know where to go look up. Know that He is Who He says He is and that He will respond when you seek Him. Know that He is working good in your life even when you can’t see any good thing happening. He will hold you. He will give you rest. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Rest easy sister and keep the faith,
Amy
Amen
What a wonderful reminder to seek God as we endure both hard times and joyful ones. It’s difficult sometimes to seek God while we’re in pain, but that’s when we need Him most. His message does hold comfort and reminds us to rest in Him, bringing true peace to our soul. As I look back, I realize some of the hardest trials in my life have led to my greatest joy. I would not be who or where I am without His guidance and I am so very thankful.
I was miraculously healed this week when the minister came to our house and prayed for us to be free of pain. I had fallen and injured my tailbone. Today, I rejoiced as I sat quite comfortably in the pew. God is so good! He has the owners manual and knows every bone in our body. He will respond. Why wouldn’t we seek Him first?