When we go through a difficult season, our human nature causes us to do a few things. One of them is to complain. I’m not sure what this does for us psychologically, but it’s a go to for many of us. We have a need to let other people know we’ve got it worse than them. That leads us to the another thing we do during hard times, which is to look for sympathy.There’s something in many of us that needs others to pity us and to shower us with their sympathy. It gives us attention that we crave. If neither of those are what we go to, them we typically play the blame game. We blame others for our trials and tribulations. It’s never our fault. Someone else, or God is the reason I’m going through this. However, it’s God that we should be going to for help in difficult times.
If you’ve ever read the book of Job, he was a good guy like us. He went to church, put money in the offering plate and prayed. In one day disaster fell on him. Raiders came in and stole all his livestock. Then lightning struck his sheep and shepherds killing them all. Right after that happened, another group of raiders stole all his camels. Lastly, a storm blew in and knocked over the house his kids were in killing them all. He stood up, tore his clothes and fell to his knees and worshipped God. He didn’t complain, look for sympathy or blame. He understood that on,y God could help him in his time of need, so he prayed. He taught us that we should go to God in our time of crisis in order to keep perspective when everything is falling apart.
Psalm 118:5-6 says, “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (NLT) We need to go to God with our problems looking for freedom and solutions instead of to people looking for sympathy or blame. God is for you even when circumstances make you feel like He is against you. We never know what is going on behind the scenes, but I’ve seen in my own life that difficult season lead to new life and greater growth. God often uses destruction for His creative purposes. He can take any situation you’re facing and work it out for your good. Instead of blaming Him, go to Him for comfort and help. It may not change things immediately, but it will begin to change you. Trust in Him and in His plan. He is for you, not against you.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko:
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 