By Andrew Fouché
Without a doubt one of the most brutal years of my life was 2015. When it started everything was great though. With the adoption of our youngest the year prior we were now a family of six and the church I was pastoring was growing. I had no idea that 2015 would end with me resigning from the church I loved (due to a few that wanted me out) and that just days after my resignation my youngest son would almost die due to complications from a heart surgery. As 2015 came to a close I was unemployed, and my son was still fighting for his life after nearly three months in the hospital.
It was sometime in March when Jessica and I were sitting on the couch after the kids had gone to sleep and we both agreed, “We’re Ok.”Our kids were alive and our marriage had survived the most difficult circumstances to date.
Difficult times aren’t bound by a calendar. Maybe 2019 was hard for you…maybe the last 10 years have been. If we’re honest, every year we live has its hardship and challenges, joys and peace. And while all of us would prefer to live a pain-free, peace-filled life, sometimes we learn things in those tough seasons that aren’t possible to learn when everything is going smoothly. If you are currently in a difficult season here are three questions that I have found helpful to ask in challenging times.
Is God surprised by my circumstances?
What do you think, is He?
One of the best words we can use to describe the nature of God is that he’s all-knowing (omniscient). Psalm 147:4-5 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” So, the answer to the question, is a resounding, “No.” As difficult as they may be, God is not ever surprised by your circumstances. With that being true, then there’s another question to ask.
Where have I moved outside of God’s design?
Sometimes our hardships are caused because of our actions. If you tell a child not to touch a hot stove and they do it anyway, they’ll get burned. God as the designer of life has given us so much to enjoy and through His Word he’s shown us the best way to live. But sometimes we ignore His ways and try to go outside of His design. The result is always brokenness and hardship. As an example, God gave us food to enjoy, but He warns against excess (Prov 23:20-21). I will confess this is a struggle for me. I’m blessed with a high metabolism so it may not be as visible but there are times when I overindulge and surprise, its not good for me. I have no excuse because I know God’s word and His design is to enjoy food but not eat more than I need. Another example, that is actually closely related, is sex. God designed it to be wonderful and enjoyable and exclusively in the context of marriage. When it’s not saved for marriage the fall-out is catastrophic on us as individuals and society. Look no further than the millions of abortions, children without fathers, and countless scars on the souls of those who have had many sexual partners outside of marriage.
I hear a lot of people blame God for the hardship in their lives when they were the ones that decided to touch the hot stove. God is not surprised by your circumstances but if you have moved outside of His design then it’s time to repent and take steps toward His will for your life.
But what if my hardship has nothing to do with my decisions?
At the end of 2015 with no job and my son fighting for his life I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could have done differently but there was nothing I could do in that moment that would change my circumstances. Sometimes you search yourself, you spend time in prayer and there just doesn’t seem to be a clear reason for why things are happening to you the way they are. It’s in these moments that our faith is tested.
Do I really trust God in times of hardship? If nothing in my circumstance changes will I keep walking faithfully with Jesus? Sometimes God teaches us something about himself and his will in the middle of our storm, that will become a sword for a later fight or a healing balm for a person in our lives who will need it in the future. God is not surprised by your circumstances and he’s also not leaving you to deal with them alone. For Jessica and I a key verse in our season of hardship was Hebrews 6:19. Speaking of Jesus it says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” In that difficult season we experienced this like we never had before. God was near to us and He showed us His love through the people He surrounded us with who loved on us and supported us in amazing ways.
As a final thought, sometimes we aren’t able to fully process these questions ourselves. If you are currently in a season of hardship find someone who loves Jesus and will be brutally honest with you, and walk through these questions together. God’s design is the best, His presence is with us, and out of your hardship He can still do something wonderful.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17