Trusting in God’s Word in the Difficult Times

Several in our church family have experienced recent heartbreak due to the loss of loved ones.  Leanne and I have been praying for a local Hermitage family who recently lost their teenage daughter in a car wreck – after she was leaving youth group on a Wednesday night to go look at Christmas lights.  The grief that these types of situations cause is immeasurable, and we often say things like, “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

When we find ourselves in life’s most difficult circumstances, our initial reaction might be to doubt God’s goodness.  “How could a good God allow such a tragic thing to happen, especially to a family who loves Him?”  We need the hope and reassurance that God’s word is true, and trustworthy.  

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

To be sure, there is more context to this verse than simply allowing it to stand alone (you should read with all of Romans 8 in mind, and all of Romans in mind, and of course all the New Testament and Old Testament in mind).  But just taking this verse on face value, we must understand that God sovereignly works out the details of human existence for the purpose of His glory – glory through salvation.  What does this mean?  It means several things.  

First of all, it means that all things which we experience (good and bad) are pointing to something bigger than us.  Additionally, since humans are not all-knowing and omni-present, we cannot always be aware of the good which God is working.  In the case of an untimely passing of a loved one, it might very well be that God allowed things to happen for the purpose of placing the faith of your family on display.  Maybe a medical worker who is not yet saved heard the testimony of Christ’s glory while your loved one was under his or her care; and maybe that testimony becomes a vital component for that medical worker to come to faith in Christ at a later point in life.  Or, maybe someone’s life is prolonged by the donation of organs from the passing of a loved one; and that prolonged life then provided the time they need to properly hear the gospel and place faith in Christ.

As Christians, we are living for the glory of God.  This is exhilarating in the “good times” such as the blessings of church growth and seeing people saved and baptized.  Conversely, there are times when living for His glory requires great strength and stamina, as we run the race which He has prepared for us.  The main thing is that we never lose trust, we never lose hope in the goodness of God.  The reward for His faithful will be worth it.

Blessings, 

Pastor Bruce

bruce.cullom@gmail.com