When days are dark for Christians, it can be hard to see God's plan and purpose in their lives. They may face trials and difficulties that seem to have no end, and they may feel dejected and rejected by others. They may pray for a breakthrough, but nothing seems to change. They may even wonder if they have done something wrong to deserve such calamities, or if their parents' sins are affecting them. How can a Christian deal with such a situation? How can they find comfort and hope in God's word? How can they respond to those who ask insensitive questions or make negative assertions?
When days are dark for Christians, it can be hard to see
God's plan and purpose in their lives. They may face trials and difficulties
that seem to have no end, and they may feel dejected and rejected by others.
They may pray for a breakthrough, but nothing seems to change. They may even
wonder if they have done something wrong to deserve such calamities, or if
their parents' sins are affecting them. How can a Christian deal with such a
situation? How can they find comfort and hope in God's word? How can they
respond to those who ask insensitive questions or make negative assertions?
One thing that a Christian can do is to remember that God
is sovereign and in control of everything that happens. Nothing can happen
without His permission or outside His will. Even when we don't understand why
He allows certain things to happen, we can trust that He has a good reason and
a good plan for us. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose." God can use our trials and difficulties to shape us, to teach
us, to draw us closer to Him, and to prepare us for His glory.
Another thing that a Christian can do is to rely on God's
promises and His presence. God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us
(Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to be with us in the fire and in the water
(Isaiah 43:2). He has promised to give us peace that surpasses understanding
(Philippians 4:7). He has promised to comfort us in all our troubles (2
Corinthians 1:3-4). He has promised to supply all our needs according to His
riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He has promised to give us strength when we
are weak (Isaiah 40:29). He has promised to work all things together for our
good (Romans 8:28). We can cling to these promises and remind ourselves of them
when we feel discouraged or hopeless.
A third thing that a Christian can do is to seek support
and encouragement from other Christians who are going through similar
situations or who have gone through them before. We are not meant to bear our
burdens alone, but to share them with one another (Galatians 6:2). We can find
comfort and hope in the testimonies of others who have experienced God's
faithfulness and grace in their lives. We can also pray for one another,
counsel one another, and edify one another with the truth of God's word (James
5:16; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:29).
Finally, a Christian can deal with those who ask them what
they did wrong to deserve such afflictions or imply that their parents must
have done something wrong and that is why they are suffering by remembering
that God is the judge of all, not man. We cannot assume that we know the cause
or the purpose of someone else's suffering, nor can we judge them by their
outward circumstances. Job's friends made this mistake when they accused him of
being a sinner and a hypocrite because of his afflictions, but they were
rebuked by God for speaking wrongly about Him (Job 42:7-9). Jesus also
corrected this misconception when he healed a man who was born blind and said
that neither he nor his parents sinned, but that this happened so that the
works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:1-3). We should not withdraw
from those who ask those types of questions or make negative assertions, but
rather answer them with gentleness and respect, pointing them to the truth of
God's sovereignty, justice, mercy, and grace.
