Trusting God during hard times can be incredibly challenging, but I’m here to tell you it’s possible. Maybe you’ve asked yourself, ‘Where is God in my pain?’ or wondered, ‘Why would a good and loving God allow so much hurt in the world?’ I’ve wrestled with these questions myself.
As a teenager, I was angry at God when I was bullied for my size. In my twenties, my heart shattered after experiencing multiple miscarriages. My world crumbled again in my thirties when I became a single mom after a painful divorce. In my forties, I was frustrated by missed promotions. And in my fifties, I fell into depression after losing my career and battling addictions.
We live in a world filled with pain—look around. But today, I want to remind you that God's love is constant, even in our darkest moments. His love is greater than any love we could ever experience.
As a mother of three adult children, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law, I didn’t fully grasp unconditional love until the birth of my first child. Yet, even that love pales compared to God's love for us.
Our God is a good and loving Father, and He created us because He wanted to love us. In John 3:16, we’re reminded of that profound love: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
In John 15:9-17, Jesus speaks about remaining in His love, obeying His commands, and loving one another as He has loved us. It’s a love so deep that He calls us His friends and invites us into a relationship with Him.
As a parent, I wanted to protect my children from every hurt and disappointment. But the reality is that they will face challenges, just as we all do. Even though we may know Bible verses and be involved in Christian communities, that doesn’t guarantee we won’t experience feelings of helplessness, loss, or suffering.
You might even feel betrayed by God during tough times. After all, we’ve been taught that He can change our circumstances, yet it might feel like He’s indifferent to our pain. So, how do we move toward God when we feel uncertain about Him?
C.S. Lewis once described pain as ‘God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’ Suffering can turn our worldview upside down, making us question everything.
When you’re hurting, you might ask, ‘Why does God allow suffering?’ or ‘How am I going to move forward?’ These are legitimate questions, but there are deeper ones that can help ground you during your struggles:
1. What is still true of God, even in my pain?
2. Who am I when the things I love or define me are taken away?
3. What kind of person will I become because of this pain?
4. Who would I be if I had never experienced suffering?"
The Bible tells us that God is close to the brokenhearted and that Jesus endured suffering so we could know we aren’t alone. We can take our pain to Jesus because He understands it more deeply than anyone else. But God also encourages us to share our suffering with others, allowing us to experience His presence through the support and care of those around us.
When we’re not alone, we have more strength and courage to face our reality. Accepting our situation is the only way to truly experience God’s presence.
Our ability to trust God hinges on what we believe about His character. Circumstances change, but God’s character does not. Life isn’t made up of one moment; it’s a story, and we’re characters who can’t see the ending or make sense of the plot. But we can trust the Author—our Heavenly Father.
So, look at your circumstances through the lens of God’s character rather than judging God’s character through your circumstances. Remember, however painful your current chapter is, the story isn’t over yet.
How do you welcome God into your life, especially when you’re hurting? Remember, your suffering isn’t a sign that God has abandoned you. He’s right beside you, carrying most of the load and allowing only the most crucial challenges for your growth. But you still need to lean into Him and completely surrender your pain so you can move through it.
Psalm 23:4 reminds us, ‘Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.’
God is with us through our challenges, but are we walking that belief out? Sometimes, we want specific outcomes, but those are based on our limited perspective rather than God’s grand plan. Even when we try to handle things our way, He’s there with us, but we need to turn to Him and seek His will.
Have you ever cried out, ‘Why, God, why?’ or thought, ‘If God loves me, why would He let this happen?’ Maybe you’re so hurt or angry that you can’t even turn to Him. I’ve been there too.
But I want you to know that you’re not alone. Your Heavenly Father already knows how you feel, and there’s no need to hide it from Him. He understands the difficulties of this life. In John 16:33, Jesus says, ‘I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world, you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.’
Cry out to God in your time of need. Tell Him exactly how you’re feeling. He knows you’re broken, and when you’re honest with Him, you can begin your journey out of the valley.
Where do you go from here? First, invite a few trusted friends into your struggles. Be honest with them about what you’re going through, and ask them to pray with you. Place your confidence in God because your difficulties will wear you down without Him.
Here are some ways to help you through tough times:
1. Get to Know God
Trust works best when you know the person you’re trusting. Spend time getting to know God’s character. His love, strength, and compassion are infinite. As you deepen your relationship with Jesus, you’ll see that no one is more worthy of your trust. Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us that Jesus invites us to come to Him with our burdens, and in His presence, we find rest.
2. Put on Garments of Praise
You might be thinking, ‘Ruth, how can I praise God when I’m hurting?’ But I’ve learned that praising God, even in the darkest times, shifts our focus from our pain to His power. Isaiah 61:3 speaks of putting on a ‘garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.’ Praise lets us wrap ourselves in God’s faithfulness and find refuge in Him.
3. God Has a Purpose
It’s tough, but God is working in all circumstances. Deuteronomy 31:6 assures us that God will never leave or abandon us, even in our darkest moments. Romans 8:28 tells us that God orchestrates everything for our good, even when we can’t see it.
4. Surrender to God
When you feel like you can’t take another step, you need to surrender everything to God. 1 Peter 4:19 encourages us to trust our futures to a faithful Creator, knowing that He is in control.
If this has resonated with you and you're going through a difficult time, I want to encourage you to take a step of faith. Trust that God is with you, even in your pain. If you’re struggling to find hope or need someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or a trusted friend. Remember, you don’t have to go through this alone.
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with others who might need encouragement. And don’t forget to subscribe to 'Out of the Darkness with Ruth Hovsepian' so you never miss an episode. Together, let’s find the light in the darkest moments and grow in faith, even through the trials.
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