“You will find you’ve looked for a sign up above, but He was there, in the dirt, where you stood.” Here and Now, by United Pursuit
I’m sure I’m not alone when I can assuredly say I have asked the following questions.
“Is God even here? Does He care? Why isn’t God stopping this?”
The list goes on.
When you’re faced with the different hardships of life, sometimes your response is to doubt God’s goodness or to think He’s not there.
Trauma, loss, lack, heartbreak, confusion (and more) can begin to weigh on you and can cloak your hope with unbelief if you’re not aware of what’s happening and feeding yourself with truth(aka the bible).
Just to clarify, there is no condemnation here – I don’t believe that there is anyone who has never doubted God and asked Him questions. Besides, when we seek out God, we will find Him all the more, so asking God questions and pursuing His answers actually draws us closer to Him.
However, losing sight of the ultimate goodness and closeness of God, under any circumstances, is not helpful.
To say it is ‘disadvantageous’ would be the understatement of the century.
Where are you, God?
I get it, life can be really hard sometimes. It can be super, super hard. But since when does that mean God isn’t good or that He isn’t there?
The beauty and joy of being a friend of God is that you have his constant comfort and presence in the midst of the ‘rubbish of life.’
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew chapter 11, verse 30
His closeness is what makes the hard seasons easier to bear; He takes your burden and gives you peace in exchange.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians chapter 3, verse 15)
Jesus said let peace RULE in your heart, since we, as a church, are called to peace. What does it look like when peace truly rules and leads?
It means that in seasons of joy, abundance, excitement and ease, peace remains the anchor.
It means that in seasons of sorrow, pain, loss and confusion, peace maintains it’s ownership of your heart.
Peace anchors you when life is wild and busy, and it steers you when you can’t see through the storm clouds.
I forgot to read the fine print…
Living with God isn’t a ticket out of hard circumstances. Ohhh, no. Not at all.
Following Jesus is guaranteed to be uncomfortable and scary and outside all that anyone could imagine or expect. However, the good news is, God offers us perfect peace, abundant joy, exuberant life and wonders that we can’t even begin to comprehend.
He offers us these amazing gifts, and what’s more? They have no expiration date.
They can survive in any weather or temperature – in the freezing cold or scorching heat.
They are secure and unthreatenable because God is secure and unthreatenable.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James chapter 1, verse 17)
These gifts He gives each of us are made to last and withstand in the most extreme conditions. In a way, it’s in the worst times that the gifts of God are best depended on and explored.
The dark sky is but a canvas for the light and colour of God!
If you feel like you’re in a rough season right now, I encourage you to meditate on the bible and what it says about peace.
If you’re doubting God could possibly be good after what you’ve been through, take time out right now to ask Him to show you where He’s been. I promise you that He has never left you. God sees what’s happening and He is with you always.
You might just be looking in the wrong place!
Laura Miles is an excitable and fast-paced Brit, living on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. Loves: tea, learning and people. Hates: brushing her hair and being put into a box. Studying to become a doctor, she is expectant and excited to see all the crazy things that the Lord is going to do in her life.