The Peace of Life with God

The Struggles and Mayhem around Us

Richard Hollerman

As we face the present and the future, I am reminded of the fact that life can be difficult as we face the trials around us. It may be the weather. It may be health concerns. It may be financial difficulties. It may be marriage and family issues. It may be one of many different challenges to our faith during these days and years.

None of us will be around years from now but for now we are to fight the good fight of faith and do what we can to glorify God and promote the cause of Christ without wavering and without flinching. Let us do this, with resolute commitment to the One who called us by His grace and power.

Our lives may take many different twists and turns but the Lord calls us to be faithful to where we are and to make decisions according to His word and in harmony with His perfect way. We are grateful for the positive comments regarding my past messages and articles and with this one we add a few more.

Today (this morning) it is bright and sunny. It is supposed to be warm and spring-like in nature. But later on, including the next couple of days, it is supposed to be stormy, rainy, and perhaps even violent. Life is like this. There may be times with a pleasant period and other times of upheaval.

Just yesterday, I glanced at a woman with her child in a wheel chair. I think that she was preparing to take him for a ride. I suppose that he has cerebral palsy that affects his body and mind. They probably didn’t want this situation and didn’t plan on it. It was given to them. I have no idea whether they believe in God or in His will, thus it may be that they merely thought that this was a cruel happening of some unknown force or some act of fate that brought this sort of thing into their lives.

But for those of us who believe in God and that He does all things well, even such a situation as this is not without meaning and does have a purpose. And that purpose is to make us more compassionate and understanding, and to bring honor to the God of creation and the Lord of life. He is the One who creates life, gives life, and will bring it to completion.

God gives us tears and these may be part of His plan to draw us closer to Him in many ways. Remember Jesus. Even He wept in the face of death (cf. John 11:35). Yes, even Jesus wept when He was reminded of a people who had rejected Him (Luke 19:41). And, when it came time for Him to suffer the cruel rejection and scourging of wicked men, He wept again (cf. Matthew 26:37-38). There is a song—perhaps a well-known one—that says, “Tears are a language that God understands.” Yes, God does understand and cares. And He cares for you—and me.

When you face trials in life, how do you endure them? Do you fight again them, or reject them, or even become bitter and angry with God for allowing them? We know that some do have these attitudes. And even psychologists and counselors may condone this hurtful and bitter attitude and say that this is normal. But, if you are a faithful Christian who believes in the providence of God and if you know that He cares, maybe you have a different attitude and response. Hopefully, in the midst of these life setbacks, you will lift your heart to God and trust Him in the midst of the storms of life. This is the only way to true peace, genuine contentment, and a hopeful attitude. It gives us an opportunity for fervent prayer in seeking God and His care and guidance.

We’ve known at least two families with Down’s syndrome children and they wondered what God had in mind. Yet they committed themselves to Him in the midst of this unwanted situation. I’ve known a couple quadriplegic people (now gone) and they must have wondered what God had in mind in their own situation. What did He have in mind? We may not know, but there may be a Day in which He will make all of this plain.

Friend, when you encounter life’s trials, lift your heart to the Lord and trust in Him. When all around you seems to be dark, gray, and stormy, remember that behind it all it is a smiling face with a heart of compassion and grace. This attitude of calm and trust, of sweet resignation, and of an attitude of surrender, will pull us through the storms of life and bring us to the brightness of God’s own day!