A few months back, I had a woman say to me, “I don’t want to cross these waters. I don’t know what God’s plan is in this, and I don’t want to walk through it.” I had no idea how to respond. She was clearly hurting in the season she was in, so how could I respond to her in a real way that would help her see that sometimes, we just have to cross the waters, even if we don’t want to? And how could I do that without seeming insensitive or as though I hadn’t been there myself?
In a way, we’re all kind of there right now. With this virus and all the uncertainty and fear it has brought with it, I think I can speak for most of us when I say this isn’t something we want to go through. The world has, for lack of better terminology, shut down. God’s Word tells us the importance of community, but now we can’t be in gatherings of more than 10 (as of right now). He tells us to “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10), but we are fearful, and this isn’t something we’d ever have decided to walk through. Things are just weird. There’s not a much better way to describe what is going on. But I want to leave some encouragement for you in this season and for any season you may have to walk through.
Nothing happens that hasn’t already been presented to God, first. He may not like it, but He allows it for reasons only He knows, and that’s where trust must come in.
He is ruler over all. He knows the end of this, and He knows the outcome. Now, that may have you questioning why. Why would He allow this? Why would he want this for us when He says that He loves us? Those questions just aren’t for us to answer. One of the reasons God allows suffering and pain is so that we will draw near to Him, and He to us. We have two choices. One causes even more pain, and the other brings Him glory through our faith and obedience in the midst of even the fiercest storms. We have to trust and put our faith in Him, because only He can bring us the peace we really need during hard times.
God doesn’t call us to understand what His plan is, but He does call us to trust in Him.
You can only make it through this difficult time by “casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7).
He loves us, and He does have a plan for us all in this. We just need to give it to Him, because only He can hold it.
I know there’s a lot out there right now vaguely telling us to trust Him without properly acknowledging how extremely difficult this, and other things, are for us. Some people are separated from sick loved ones. Some won’t get to walk across the stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas. Some can’t leave their homes. Some are facing extreme anxiety and depression. And some have not a care in the world. We are all handling this differently, but no matter where you stand, He really is for you and with you. That’s not always going to look pretty, no matter the circumstance surrounding the difficulty you face. Pain is a real thing we just have to face in this fallen world, but He will never leave your side.
He is always with you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hayley Wilson: Hayley Wilson currently serves on the Women’s Ministry Team at London Bridge Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. She has a passion for serving the Lord through helping women grow in their faith and maintain a strong relationship with Him.
