God’s Gifts in Hard Times
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out–plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
When life is going well, it is easy to quote this verse and celebrate God’s wonderful plan unfolding. However, when life gets stuck somewhere between “what-in-the-world?” and “get-me-out-of-here-already!” we don’t like to think that we might still be in the middle of God’s wonderful plan. We think that difficult times are a diversion from God’s ideal for us.
The truth is, God has never promised that bad won’t happen and yet we are dumbfounded when it does. 1 Peter 4:12 cautions, “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.” In fact, James 1:2 reminds us, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.”
One gift God gives us is Himself. He is called Emmanuel, God with us. “I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you. Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” (Isaiah 41: 9b – 10). We are not forgotten. We are not hopeless. He has not lost control. He is faithful to carry us through and continue to work out His plan for us (Philippians 1:6).
Another gift God gives us in our trials is His promise to refine us. “He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires. Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit. Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally He brought us to this well-watered place.” (Psalm 66: 10 – 12). I have learned that God not only holds us together when we feel like we are falling apart, but he refines our faith in the process. This is the hope I cling to.
One more gift God gives us during difficult seasons is His promise to work every detail in our lives into something good (Romans 8:28), and to mature us in the process (James 1:2 -4). And not only this, but He gives us hope that He will restore the lost years (Joel 2:25). I love Isaiah 43: 19, “Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”
So, If you are feeling like God’s wonderful plan for you has taken a detour, take heart! He is up to something good. And as you trust Him, He promises to “calm you with His love and delight you with His songs,” (Zephaniah 3:17).
