Used with permission
As Christians, whenever we face overwhelming trials in life (such as the loss of a family member, a financial crisis, a severe illness, problems with a child, and many other similarly dreadful circumstances) we usually have two options:
1) either to be bitter and murmur over the situation, or
2) to trust in God. For many of us, as we go through disastrous situations, our trust in God can be shaken, our faith shaken, and we might ask this question,
“Why did God allow this to happen?”
The answer to that question can be found in the Word of God. The Bible is filled with marvelous promises that we can cling to. For example:
Psalm 46: 1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Clearly, God allows trials in our lives to accomplish numerous purposes, perhaps the biggest of which is to simply learn to trust Him. In 1 Kings 17, the widow’s child died so that Elijah could bring him back to life so that the woman would believe in God. In Exodus 14, Pharaoh’s armies were allowed to pursue the Jews so that God could open the Red Sea and the Jews would believe in God. In Matthew 27, the disciples were crushed as they watched Jesus die on the cross, but it was so He could rise from the grave, provide eternal salvation, and so that the disciples would believe Him.
But even though we Christians know of these promises in the Bible, plus numerous examples of peoples’ lives, why is it that we still sometimes doubt and murmur within difficult situations? I suggest it may simply be our lack of spending quality time in studying the Word of God and maintaining a fervent prayer closet.
I suggest that we spend more time, every day, carefully studying the Word of God and maintaining our prayer closets so that our trust in Him will grow more and more. You see, if we give Him a great PIECE of time in our closets, then He will give us a great PEACE in time of our calamities!
Psalm 9:9-10, “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”