“Living Under Pressure”
Some of the most painful moments in life are the ones you never planned for. You didn’t ask for the conflict. You didn’t expect the criticism, and you had no idea a major disappointment was about to take place. One day you are living obediently to God and serving faithfully, and the next day you’re wondering how things got so complicated.
There are times in life when we begin asking hard questions like, “What did I do wrong,” or more explicitly, “Why is this happening to me?” The biggest problem with a big problem is thinking things are going to get worse and there’s no way out! But maybe there is an even bigger problem and that’s “THINKING about the problem, rather than BELIEVING God is with you IN the PROBLEM.”
Whatever you are going through right now is not random. It hasn’t slipped past God’s attention. Nor has it arrived without a purpose. At this moment life may feel heavy, confusing, or unfair – but it is not meaningless. God is with you during this difficult time. He’s not wasting a single moment of your faithfulness.
When life hurts, it’s natural to assume God must be behind what you’re experiencing. But there’s something you must remember – God is sovereign. While He is in control of everything, he is not the author of sin, injustice, or cruelty. He does not delight in your pain, and he never asks you pretend that you don’t hurt.
If you belong to Jesus, nothing enters your life without your Father’s permission. Even during times of crisis when you’re confused and afraid, God is paying attention to every detail. The Bible tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
The most painful experiences can be used by God for a greater purpose, even though what we might be going through at the present time makes no sense to us at all. God often does his deepest work in us before he does his most visible work through us. He shapes the heart long before he changes the situation. What feels like delay is often preparation. You may feel like you’re stuck – but today isn’t the end of the story.
Pastor Carnes
