“Weathering the Storm”
Welcome trials in your life. Yes, you read it correctly, welcome them. I say this because trials can be the foundation of your faith that you stand upon. Let me explain.
For many years I cried out to God in prayer for a change in my marriage. The early years of our marriage did not reveal one filled with joy, support and laughter. Instead, we had crashed into frustrations, misunderstandings and angry emotions. I began to question God’s plan for the relationship-was it really for good and not harm? If marriage is a gift from Him then why was I caught in an unending cycle of bitterness, isolation and resentment? As a popular song by Chris Tomlin echoed the words “you’re a good, good Father, it’s who you are,” I cringed. I contemplated this label, ‘good’ Father, with doubt. Deep within, I didn’t understand why God was not delivering me of the trials within my marriage.
These thoughts rallied around my head as I pushed through tears of disappointment and days of doubt. Until one day...
One day, my friend made two groundbreaking statements to me as I wallowed in fear over my circumstance. She said, “God has not forgotten the innermost desires of your heart, He still knows them,” and “don’t let your marriage become an idol.”
The reminder that He simply knew the desires of my heart was a splash of water to my parched soul, but the idol statement was a shock to my almost dead soul.
Marriage, an idol? How can that be? I thought idols were bad; things in life that we worship and put before God…bingo, put before God. My marriage had become a barometer to my relationship with God. If my relationship with my spouse was good, then I was pleased with God, but if we were sinking then I sneered at God.
As I processed these statements and reflected, I realized the idol I had formed within my heart. My heart ached for forgiveness and leaped with awareness. The conviction was welcomed as it allowed my eyes to see so much.
This was a cornerstone in my Christian faith. My prayer had often been, “teach me Lord how to be wise, open my eyes to things,” and so it had been granted… but amidst tears and frustrations. Of course, the frustrations lingered even after the revelation, but the faith attached to the two concepts strengthened my perspective on my Heavenly Father. The trials and uncomfortable occurrences no longer made me fearful, nor waiver. I now stood firm on my faith.
I see clearly the trials allowed us to be molded, pruned and preserved; not damaged beyond repair, nor forgotten.
The foundation I began to stand on was not for the weary soul to waiver upon, but one to withstand the storms. I no longer wanted to be a fair-weather believer dictating an Almighty God. I wanted to be a firm believer with roots anchored in trust, endurance and faith.
Thirteen years later I would walk the road all over again. He matured us through the frustrations, purged us of disheartening generational cycles and strengthened us through heartache. God took two unprepared, doubtful hands and guided them to wisdom and unity; proving He is a good, good Father.
If you are doubting the Lord’s goodness in any area of your life, hang tight. Dig deep into that trial. Grip your faith and commit to trusting He has a plan far beyond your thoughts. Trust the process because with it comes endurance, wisdom, deeper trust and a foundation worth standing on.
