Through The Storm
‘Everything happens for a reason’
Every time someone mentioned this phrase to me, I had a sudden urge of wanting to punch them in the face. In that moment, I was struggling, I was in pain and it’s not what I wanted or needed to hear at that moment in time. Because I get it, it happens for a particular reason but WHAT REASON IS THAT! Why did it have to hurt so much? Why is God putting me through this? Why is He allowing this to happen? Why me? Why not so and so who has the perfect life, where everything comes easy to them? This was my unhealthy thought process that led to my anger with God. Do you even love me God, why would you let this happen to your child that you ‘supposedly’ love?
This phrase had been said to me so many times, I felt that it had lost its meaning and people were just saying it to make me feel better, to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear. How do I even reply to that phrase. Okay sure, yeah I'm all good now, I'm just going to stop being sad now. No, it's not a switch we can turn off and on. I wish it was but maybe I lost my job, I'm struggling getting a job and I need the money, someone I love has passed away, a relationship ended, I'm suffering from physical pain, I had a miscarriage. So what now? What's the next step I take to feel better, to move on, to be happy again? Can I ever be happy again? These are just examples of the hardships and struggles people go through in life. Most people have good intentions when saying this phrase to someone who’s struggling or in pain. ‘Don’t worry Rachel, everything happens for a reason’. Does it? How do you know?
The answer is you don’t, but that’s where God comes into the picture. This is when faith starts, when the meaning of being a Christian is set in motion. It's a long road of accepting this phrase and having faith and to be honest I’m still on it. However, no matter how much I’ve been cursing this phrase, it must be true because our Father in heaven says it's so in the best words possible, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1. This verse tells us that with every season of our lives comes challenge, tribulation, hardships, love and life but the one that you learn from is the one that makes the difference! God chooses our battles specifically!He knows what we can handle and what we can’t, He uses it to mould us to the best version of ourselves. He is our Potter.
In our lives, when we're going through hard times, not leading joyful lives as God intended, just about surviving each day as it comes and floating through life; God whispers these promises of truth and wisdom:
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 16:33
“Everyone will hate you because of me, But not a hair of your head will perish, Stand firm and you will win life.” Luke 21:17-19
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” Romans 5:3-4
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“It shall come to pass, That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” Isaiah 65:24
“‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams” Acts 2:17
It’s right there in front of us! In the book He gave us, why is it so hard for us to accept it! If we live this truth in our lives, and acknowledge the words our Father in heaven speaks to us and has spoken to those before us, what can stand in our way? What can bring us down, when you know your Father’s got your back? Who can be against you when you have a mighty loving Saviour on your side, that you get to call Dad? All we have to do is realise what we have, WHO we have and accept the cards we have been dealt.
It’s a lot easier said than done. Some days I don’t listen to the words of reason, I stay in bed ALL day, moping, i don’t read my bible, i don’t talk to anyone, let alone GOD! I let the darkness take me and I wallow in it! I give up and allow myself to be sad and miserable, claiming that no one understands what I’m dealing with. Egh I am still unemployed after applying for nearly two years, I can’t afford this, I can’t travel, I’m a sinner and I’m not worthy of coming to church, I lost my uncle to Corona Virus, I can’t believe he’s actually gone. I this, I that, the most common thing is ‘I’, why do I keep thinking about myself, the world doesn’t only contain Me, myself and I. I am not even on this earth for me, I’m on this earth for the purpose of God, for His glory. Why can’t I stop being so selfish and start looking at the world differently. I know its hard, I know it hurts, but why wallow in self pity and reject the cross that has been given to you to carry. When the second you accept it, that’s when God will carry it for you. That’s the kind of God we serve. The kind that loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for us.
Don’t get me wrong, these are all acceptable reasons to feel sad, no reason is stupid, if it has affected you and upset you then it is not stupid! and I would never belittle myself or others for feeling low. We’re not robots for crying out loud and we can’t be happy 24/7! That’s not who we are, we weren’t created that way, we’re only human, and in our sadness and pain that’s when we learn the lessons God has for us and grow into the person He has called us to be: the best versions of ourselves.
I pray that we trust that God has the best plan for our lives. I pray we don’t look at our circumstances, but rather we look to the God of hope. It’s reassuring to know that even when we are at our worst, at the lowest we have ever been and feel abandoned, the Holy Spirit will stay with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm in Christ no matter how difficult the situation and the pain we’re feeling and not let it overtake us. After all God has done for us, can we not do this little thing, and just trust him through the storm?
And while we wait for the storm to pass and pray to God for patience to endure it, in the midst of our anguish and pain, He tells us, my child “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” John 14:18.
Wow, have you ever seen something so amazing! My heart can’t take it, it’s too much! The Lord that commands the dry lands and the heavens and everything in between, is going to come to me and comfort me when I’m feeling lonely! WOW, what kind of love is this? I don’t deserve this! He is a relentless God that loves us with reckless abandon. If only we could see it, even in the midst of the storm that is raging above our heads. But my children have you forgotten, He’s the God that calms the seas. So you have nothing to worry about.
For sometimes He calms the storm but sometimes He calms His child.
I don’t say this enough, but thank you Lord, thank you for loving me, for calling me by my name, thank you for choosing me to give this storm to; because that must mean I’m special. Special because you chose this battle for me, to be moulded by Your beautiful creating hands.