Have you experienced times in your life when you felt alone in a trial? Did you struggle to have faith even though you know God’s Word tells us that He is always faithful? Was it hard to trust God’s grace?
I remember a time when my “worst-case-scenario” self made an appearance. That’s the version of me that takes a minor medical issue and turns it into a terrible diagnosis.
My older daughter mentioned one evening that her eye was hurting a little bit. The next morning, she said it was really bothering her. She willingly took a couple of ibuprofen, which was a sure sign that she was in pain. I started searching for an eye doctor and got her an appointment for the next afternoon.
However, when I picked her up from school that day, she said her eye felt better. After hearing other symptoms she experienced, I decided it was probably a migraine. Thankfully, she was still feeling better the following morning. I canceled the doctor’s appointment and put my fears about this being the initial symptom of some terrible disease to rest.
We all have days when we’re not feeling well. We get run down and struggle to find enough energy to get through the day. And just like in our physical lives, we often experience ups and downs in our spiritual lives.
Sometimes I feel like things are going so well. I’m experiencing victory over sin (as in I kept my temper when a certain teenager didn’t respond the way I would have liked). Perhaps I stepped out of my comfort zone and spoke to someone about Christ. Maybe I’ve seen a specific answer to prayer, or have been consistent with my morning devotional time all week.
Then there are the days when it feels like nothing is going right. I’ve given in to an old familiar sin. I’m letting discouragement about a situation steal my hope. Or maybe I’ve been neglecting my Bible again.
I try taking it all to God, but I don’t seem to get any relief or find an answer for my problem. It can feel like I’m just stumbling along on my own. The words of Edward Mote’s hymn, “The Solid Rock,” comfort me in those times.
“When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.”
When I can’t feel God’s presence or I’m overwhelmed by circumstances or grief seems to have a permanent grip on my heart, I know that God is still there. He is present in my life.
No matter what my feelings are in the moment, they don’t change the fact that God is good and is always with me. I trust in His faithfulness because I’ve read about it in His Word and seen it evidenced in my life in the past.
I can ask God to reveal any sin in my life that might be hindering my fellowship with Him. Then I can rest in His grace, waiting and hoping through those dark seasons, knowing that He is there for me.
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. ~Psalm 9:10
Let’s learn to trust God’s grace even when we can’t see his face.
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