2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Life comes with surprises. Sometimes we walk a path of comfort and celebration. At other times, we ride a steep road of disappointment and rejection. Some days, we witness God blessing and establishing the works of our hands, and then the next moment, our company’s downsizing sweeps us off our feet. Just when we taste victory and breathe a sigh of relief, a medical report shakes the ground beneath us.
When calamities roll in, it is easy to lose hope. It is easy to wonder, “Where is God? Does He even care?”
The all-knowing, all-present God is aware of everything you go through. God stood with you when you lost your house. He was there when you buried your child. God held your hand when others falsely accused you and took what was yours. He is a promise keeper who promised never to leave, nor forsake you.
Truth be told, we often center our lives around ourselves. But in reality, our lives are part of God’s story. He alone is the true Hero of the plot. His plan is not merely to give us a life of ease but to train us to be citizens of His kingdom. His design is larger: He desires that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. You are playing a part in His story of redemption. The trials and struggles you are going through are not wasted.
Every experience trains and prepares you to bear witness to Christ in the life of someone who desperately needs to repent. Your life may be the only gospel someone reads. Your hope in the midst of struggles could be the seed God uses to bring a loved one to the foot of the cross.
Take time this Lenten season to ask yourself: do you want to throw in the towel, or do you want God to be glorified? Let the answer give you hope in the Lord Almighty and courage to persevere.
