Lately, in these posts, we’ve been exploring the amazing benefits that come with our having, maintaining and building a relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We’ve learned that abiding (maintaining) such a relationship can get us through just about anything that life throws at us. Yet, we’re also aware that, in this broken world, things certainly don’t always go as planned, or sometimes, even as we’d like them to. So, just what are we supposed to do then?
At our most recent First Friday event for our Single Adult Ministry (May 2024), we began to explore the topic of Maintaining Faith and Hope in Difficult Circumstances. We will be continuing this theme as we enter the month of June and begin to celebrate our Summer of Second Fridays.
(If you’ve not yet heard, our ministry has flexibly pivoted and conceded the First Fridays of the summer months of June, July and August this year to work with available schedules and allow for some amazing Vista campus-wide events to take place on the First Fridays of each month. Therefore, our Ministry’s “Second Friday” events are now scheduled to take place on June 14, July 12 and August 9. You can get more information and pre-register for the cookout via this link.)
To illustrate the point of this blog’s title and provide some additional context for what is often referred to in the church as God’s omniscience, one of our friends at the Christian Broadcasting Network, Dr. Paul J. Palma, who is also a Regent University professor and the author of three books, has written the following. I hope it’s as helpful and meaningful to you as it is to me.
A friend once told me a story of a broken engagement. She explained that her initial reaction was to ask, “Why did God allow this to happen to me? What did I do wrong?”
It has been years since the break-up, and my friend has been able to let go of the pain, see God’s purpose in it all and experience His peace.
After all, if the break-up never happened, she never would have discovered the love of her life. Nor would I, as I’m referring to my best friend and lifelong companion – my wife!
She was able to reconcile her past hurt as she embraced all God had in store for her.
On the eve of His crucifixion, just before meeting with the disciples for the Last Supper, Jesus poured water into a basin and began washing their feet. Bewildered, Peter asked, “Are you going to wash my feet?” (John 13:6-11) Although, at that moment, Peter did not understand the reason behind the Lord’s actions, Jesus offered him simple words of encouragement. God never acts without reason, nor does he conceal his purpose from us forever, assuring us, “later you will understand.” (verse 7)
Perplexity and confusion may trouble us for a moment, but God will never abandon us. Lingering questions about who we are, why circumstances occur the way they do, and what the future holds may leave us feeling unsettled, discouraged, and distraught. Still, God has a plan. We can trust Him, having confidence He will reveal what His purpose is when He is ready.
We look forward to God’s full disclosure of all He has prepared for us in Christ. As the disciple John said:
What we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this; when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
In the meantime, we weather insecurity and disillusionment by placing our hope in the reality that God has a plan. And He will reveal just what that plan is at the proper time. We can rest assured that though the future may appear hidden and unclear, God is molding all that we are — our past hurts, present failures, and future uncertainties — into something far better, beyond what we could ask for or think (Eph. 3:20). Amid circumstances that don’t seem to add up and life trials we have no explanation for, we can find peace in knowing that God’s plan for us is better than anything we can imagine.
Father, thank you for Your perfect plan. Help us trust that Your plan is better than our own. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Did you catch it? I found 4 key truths to encourage us. Even when difficult circumstances and situations find their way into our lives and we can’t understand why, we can be certain and trust in the truth that:
- God has a plan.
- He’ll reveal it in His proper timing, and it will likely be better than anything we could have formulated.
- He does not allow things into our lives or act without reason.
- In each-and-every circumstance, He will not conceal His purpose from us forever.
It may not always be easy, but we can learn to live in the tension of ambiguity, uncertainty and even disillusionment. As we continue to hold on to God’s promises and learn to trust in them, we grow in our perseverance and faith. What we may not be able to see or grasp in the moment, often becomes crystal clear in hindsight.
Can you think of circumstances where this has proven to be true?
Where are some areas in which you’re currently struggling to understand “the why” (or even “the what”)?
Wouldn’t it be great if you could share some of them with other believers who would listen, pray with you and provide encouragement?
As mentioned earlier, at our “Second Friday” event this week (Vista campus – pre-register for the cook-out via this link), we’re going continue the conversation around how to maintain faith and hope when life (especially the single life) throws difficulties and uncertainty your way. Specifically, we’re going to be digging a little deeper in how to gain a clearer understanding who you are, God’s purpose in creating you and what you were made for based on the specific gifts you’ve been given.
If you’re anywhere in the area, I hope you’ll make a plan to join us!
If you’re out of the area, or for any other reason unable to participate in person, I invite you to reach out to me directly by sharing your thoughts, comments, questions and prayer requests through this email.
Either way, please be assured and encouraged that even when we don’t know why, God most certainly does and He wants to be in relationship with you so that, in His time, He can unveil the mysteries and reveal His perfect plans with you. Being in relationship with the God who created and loves you is what the Christian life is all about. We can talk more about that, too, if you’d like.
Right here with you,
Terry