Stress, problems, difficulties…put in your own personal synonym and you’ll still find the truth of the following statement: “These situations tend to bring out the best and the worst in people. “ You’ve seen it and you’ve experienced it. Hard times can cause some people to “rise to the occasion” and become more than they have been in the past. They seem to navigate these circumstances with wisdom, even when they haven’t lived in that space previously. However, others enter into difficulty and stress with a sense of defeat, being unable to successfully grow and learn from the narrative life dishes out to them. The question for this blog is simple: Why? The answer is complex, but here’s an observation:
Often, things happen that we simply cannot comprehend. Those who seem to navigate challenging times well often adopt the attitude that says, “That’s alright—God doesn’t expect us to have everything figured out.” We can have faith in His wisdom and trust that He will take care of everything. He desires us to turn to Him and express our uncertainty, saying, “God, I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I’m placing my trust in You to care for me.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 rightly describes this: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” The word for “perplexed” means not knowing how to proceed. The Apostle Paul had every right to respond negatively to hard times. Hard times defined most of his ministry, yet even when he couldn’t see the direction or outcome, he declares, “We’re not in despair.”
Consider this thought today: Instead of letting difficult circumstances paralyze you, let them drive you to a deeper trust in the God who knows us well and also knows the past, the present, and the future. You just might find yourselves tackling the “best of times and the worst of times” with wisdom, grace, and confidence that the God who made you, also is keeping you.