Faithful God

“I will sing through fire and thunder
‘Cause You are on my side, I trust You with my life
I know my story, it isn’t over” (I AM THEY, “Faithful God”)

How are these lyrics speaking to your heart today?

During this Lenten season, I’ve been trying to grow in my trust in God. I’ve been making some decisions about my future and working towards handing my life to God. Though the hardest time I’ve had recently with trusting God happened during my trip to Hong Kong two weeks ago.

I was going to visit aging family members who do not know God and who have very little time left on earth. After years apart, I was finally going to be with them and hopefully show them God’s love.

But when plans fell apart and it felt like prayers weren’t being answered, I was very upset at God.

After a few days, as my agenda was altered, I was able to make it home, and I recovered from an exhausting trip, I realized that this was the ultimate test of trust in God. Not a test as in God waiting for me to fail or trying to rate my faith. I don’t believe God works like that.

No, more of a personal growth opportunity for me, if I let it be. Would I trust God even when it felt like the opposite of my prayers were happening?

To be honest, I didn’t trust God right away. But as my heart softened and my eyes were opened to the mysterious ways He as working, I realized that I could see God more clearly because of the difficulties that arose.

I contracted COVID during my trip, yet no one else caught it, including my high-risk grandparents. I was able to fly home, though if I had flown two weeks earlier, I would not have been able to make it back into my home country until getting a negative test. I was given the gift of rest when I returned home. A very valuable gift indeed.

So many little things worked together, though the greatest thing was being vulnerable with God. I expressed anger, fear, and deep grief to Him during this experience. While those feelings are uncomfortable and unpleasant, the more times we allow ourselves to feel those things and share them with God, the closer we will be to Him.

How do we know that we can trust God?

Well, Easter is a great start. The disciples likely didn’t understand God’s plan or why Jesus had to die or if He would even rise again. Though Jesus continued to promise that He would return and that He has power over everything–even death–they still didn’t quite “get it” until it all unfolded before them.

Jesus doesn’t condemn us for not understanding–after all, only He can fully understand everything. I’m so thankful that we have such a patient God who will gently guide us and help us grow in our trust in Him.

As we head into Good Friday and Easter, reflect on these questions:

1. What has God been teaching you this Lenten season?
2. How have you been challenged during this time?
3. Good Friday is a time to sit in hard, sorrowful feelings, but also appreciate Jesus’ love for us. How can you show up vulnerably as you remember Jesus’ sacrifice for you?

I hope and pray you can truly feel God’s love for you during this time and beyond.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14