“When The Going Gets Tough…”

“No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1Cor. 10:13)  Hmmmmm, easier said than done. 

I have a friend who is in a desperate struggle for his life. That fearsome disease of cancer seems to be having its way in his body. The intense suffering ( physical & mental & psychological) is like a heavy cloud that can take away your breath.  The best of the medical profession doesn’t seem to be enough. Even the prayers of family and friends don’t seem to be enough. Where is the Lord… where is his healing power and deliverance from this evil curse? We pray “ Our Father, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”. 

The will of God is not some arbitrary law… it’s not like the law of gravity, that is true but doesn’t have obvious moral content. God’s will is perfect…it is love.. it is the absolute best for us. Doing God’s will, allowing God’s will, embracing God’s will is not “giving in” to something that is not good for me. God’s will in my life is the best for me. Whether I see it at the time is another story.. whether it’s difficult for me is another story… whether I can see the ”goodness” in it, is another story. Regardless of all that, God’s Will is the absolute best.

It seems that even Jesus could not see this fully during the time of his passion…”Father, let this cup pass from me…. yet your will be done”. It seems that even Jesus could not “fully see” the joy and perfection and goodness of the father’s will on that desperate night in Gethsemane…. Father is there another way ?

We can see the goodness of that delicious ice cream cone, of that ice cold beer during the heat of summer, of that big pay raise that enables us to buy that new car or house, of that healing of sickness and the associate suffering that allows my body to again function without pain and limitations. But what about when it’s not obvious that God’s will is good for us. What about the times when his mercy looks to be a “severe mercy” and not a “tender mercy”… when God’s will doesn’t seem so good? 

Well, that’s where our faith and our trust are tested. That’s when we must dig down and look to uncover our belief that God is love…God is good….God is all powerful. That’s the time when we must “hope against hope”. When things come crashing down around us, that’s when the “rubber of our faith hits the road”. Okay boys, it’s time to stand on our faith that we’ve professed. I’ve professed that “Jesus is Lord”, so God help me to put my money where my mouth is… help me to stand on your holy word. Lord, I’m weak…my faith is weak…. help my unbelief. “O Lord, my strength, my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress!” (Jer 16:19)  

Lord in my day of distress, be my refuge. I once again put my trust in your love for me. Once again I proclaim that Jesus is Lord! Hear my prayer and cry during this time of my distress. When the going gets tough, may our Loving Father have the last word …… and may that word be the word of healing, of deliverance, of rescue, and of love.