Because God Loves

Words and I are best friends especially ones of encouragement. I give them. My heart warms when I receive them. Three of my favorite reassuring words are God loves me. These powerful gems have carried me through many difficult times like burying three brothers and living with multiple health issues among other things.

Trials are tough, but as believers, we’re taught that Jesus is with us through each one. Even still, we can be tempted to search for answers to make suffering more tolerable.

In John 11, it says Jesus heard about Lazarus’ illness. He responded by saying death would not be the end result but rather God would receive glory.

Jesus could have come to them during Lazarus’ illness. He didn’t.

Lazarus died.

Jesus arrived after the crisis.

Why? The timing was crucial because of deeper reasons only God could see. Isn’t that how it often is? God knows and understands what we haven’t even caught a glimpse of.

Because we can read the account in this chapter of John, we can grasp how Jesus already knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead.

But the sisters didn’t know.

When we’re going through difficult times, God already knows how He’s going to respond to our pleas. But we don’t.

The passage says Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Because He did, He knew they needed to experience something which would stay with and carry them long after He was gone. So, He waited in order for them to learn His power was greater than death.

He focused not on the immediate problem but on the eternal solution.

And He still does.

There are times when we may be tempted to question His timing. We might think that how we see a situation makes sense so why wouldn’t He respond in the way we think is clear.

Because God loves us, He desires for our difficulties to point us to His glory. He wants us to learn to look at the eternal rather than what’s immediately impacting us.

This is not an easy thing to do. The problems seem paramount; the struggles are overwhelming; the troubles are … well, troubling.

And God knows that.

This is why He said in John 14:1 and John 14:27 to make a decision. He said, “Let not.” He didn’t say the issues would be easy so just deal with it. He told us that in the midst of the glitches, both big and small, look to Him and do not allow our hearts and mind to be swayed into focusing on the storm of a problem.

Next time the temporary trials seem too large to comprehend, spend a bit of time in Isaiah 45 and Job 38. Then swing over to Psalm 139 and let those words remind you that He sees you and understands.

Because He loves, He knows what is needed and when it is needed.

Father, Your purpose and plan has always been for an eternal relationship. When hardships come, remind us again of how much You love us. Then help us focus on You and trust You.

 

Photo Credit: Unsplash, Omid Armin

 

12 Comments

  1. Amen! When we focus on God and trust God, it makes it easier to obey God. In all this, He will get the glory in our lives.
    Thank you, Susan for your sweet words of wisdom and encouragement.

    1. Author

      Thank you for YOUR encouraging comments. I appreciate your time and thoughts and insight pointing to God as well.

  2. Susan, This is such a good reminder about God’s perfect plan and purposes He is never late to the party, but has a better plan than we can often imagine, and always has our best at heart if we belong to Him.

    1. Author

      You are so right, Sally. I like that … never late to the party. His best is our best. Thank you for adding your comments. I appreciate them.

  3. I love that God focuses on the eternal solution rather than the immediate problem. Good reminder to view our challenges with an eternal perspective.

    1. Author

      I love it too, Melissa. Yes, keeping God’s perspective is crucial. Thank you for commenting. Nice to “see” you here.

  4. Hallelujah! This was wonderful to read, Susan.
    It is so nice seeing your writing here. This post was so on-time for me. We just had a conference on television with Gov. Whitmer here in Michigan last night and she is having us on a three week order until December 8th, including that all indoor gatherings can only be at max ten people. I have no idea what this means for our church (figures, we are just starting to get back to it), but it sounds like we’ll be out of church for another three weeks. Praise God, it’s not a stay at home order, but this also means: no gatherings for Thanksgiving except only one other household than your own and we have to wear masks. No restaurants either. Please pray for our state of Michigan. I have chosen to put all of this in God’s hands. I will not let my heart be troubled regardless of what is going on around me. Glory be to God. Love you, Susan! Hugs! <3

    1. Author

      Hey Abby, nice to see you here. I’m glad this spoke to your heart. That decision to leave things in God’s hands is a powerful one. It flows with what Christ told us in John 14:1. I will be praying for your state for sure. Stay well. Love you too and thank you for commenting.

  5. Studying Job right now and it resonates with your writing. In my journal this morning I wrote that even Job was baffled by his suffering as to why, but he also acknowledged that God’s ways are always the best.
    We also need to remember the way we respond to our personal struggles exposes our attitude toward God. Life is hard at times but I love your insight to remember that God sees me and understands.

    1. Author

      Tracy, I so agree with your comment that how we respond to struggles exposes our attitude toward God. I think insight comes through the struggles we go through and are given by God to help us take the next step. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate them and you, my friend.

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