Shouldering Faith in Challenging Times

A few days ago, we received some devastating news. My mom's cancer, which three months ago was declared unable to be found or imaged in her body, has spread to six places in her brain.

On top of the absolutely excruciating thought of living without my mom, there are some real long-term implications of my mom's possible passing. My parents lack a current will; their last will was written in 1988. So, happily, we have a plan for my adult brothers and me to live with my aunt Judy. But, no plan for the businesses. No current wishes. No discussions about some of the challenging family dynamics. Just more chaos to be added to the pile - welcome to the mess.

We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and possibly not a lot of time. The potential death of my mom is emotionally, spiritually, and physically challenging. There are some real financial implications to all of this chaos. It is important to note there are wide varieties of faith perspectives within the many pieces that need to be balanced - from almost complete disbelief in God to myself, who focuses on and craves His Presence in every step of my life.

Life is messy, the world is broken by sin, but we don't have to do this alone. God intends for us to bring all things to Him; this applies to personal challenges and those that inflict our culture, politics, and the world in general. God invites us to call on Him, trust the redemption that Jesus provided, and receive the Holy Spirit - this is truly the starting point. In addition, we are told to find a community of believers. At a future time, I will provide some links that flush out these essential points. I could write volumes on the importance and beauty of beginning with this mentality.

As I mill over this unwanted news (now added to my already long list of challenges), I have begun considering why I am able to lift my head off the pillow this morning:

(I've placed the biblical reasoning at the end to encourage you to dig further)

My resilience is built from an ongoing habit. I would not be able to take in the exhaustion, pain, and hurt of these challenging, unfair, and destructive blows without time in God's word and prayer. Through God's word and prayer, I have come to a point where I am better able to sense His Presence, Love, Will, and Guidance. In short, I genuinely feel loved and feel that I am not alone.

From this study, I have seen that God did not intend for our world to be broken. At the end of each creation day, He declared, "It is good!". Cancer, birth defects, death, and devistation were not in His original plan. I take comfort that God granted us free will - he wants us to love Him, listen, and obey because we desire His Way not because we have no other choice. From the choice of sin, our world was broken - He wants better for us. He may use the bad things to shape us, but the original plan was for a loving paradise.

God has faithfully helped me through challenges before. He has helped me endure the drudge of daily life, He's propped me up when death seemed welcoming, and He has helped me navigate battles that I did not create, but I had no choice but to fight. He has been faithful to help me find clarity and flexibility. He has been by my side when anxiety and fear seemed to choke all the air out of the room. And, He's been there in moments of anger so intense that I almost sent a table through a large glass pane window. In His faithfulness, He has taught me to calm the intensity of my emotions and provided me with unimaginable strength. I have many examples where He helped me beyond my own abilities. With His promises of loving and supporting me, His consistency in being present during the good times and the bad, I would be foolish not to trust Him now. It doesn't mean I won't face hardship. It doesn't mean things will get better. It means that I am not doing this without His Grace and Love.

I believe that "Let Go and Let God" is a wonderfully soothing mantra and has its place. In reality, we also need to pray for the wisdom to know when we should wait and when we can't operate from the sidelines. We need to acknowledge the things only God can handle. God has been pushing me to work on letting go. I have a knack for attacking a problem before really taking it to God in prayer. In addition, I have times where I will declare it is in God's hands but don't follow up when pushed with a lead that might help the situation. So, it is important to acknowledge that there will be times when God needs to hold the problem and times when I need to do something. I hopefully and joyfully pray for this wisdom.

I have friends that care. I have a handful of friends, a few that are fellow believers and a few who are not, who I can reach when something goes wrong. I send them a simple note that things are challenging. I know that I can be honest with them, I can say this really stinks. There is power in being able to truthfully say, "This is a frustrating and challenging time." I don't need them to fix things. I don't even need them to check on me constantly; I am strengthened because I know they care.

I am not a victim of my circumstances. God did not promise an easy life once sin entered the world. Satan is fighting to be in charge of this earth. He wants us to wallow in the sense that it is not fair, we don't deserve this, and why me! It is essential to acknowledge that it isn't fair. We often don't deserve the things that fall into our lives, but I do not want to ask why me? Instead, I like to fight back. I will grieve. I will feel sad. But, I will trust that God loves me enough to comfort me, care for me, and be there for me.

I let myself go numb, but not for long. I shut down in small increments - silly memes, a game or two on my device, watching tv, or just vegging. But, over the years, I have learned that I need to do this in small doses. First, I try to make it more productive, like playing board games with my kids, listening to a book as a family, dancing wildly to music that shows just how goofy and not cool I am, or some form of art. But, sometimes, this is more engagement, more energy, and more focus than I can muster. In these times when I need to become mindlessly numb, I set a limit - I can do this for so many rounds or a certain amount of time. Then, I work to hold myself to it. I don't want it to take over or shift my trust in God's helpfulness and healing grace. I don't want to miss his call on my heart because I am connecting jewels, flinging birds, or laughing at silly animals.

As for facing the possibility of my mom's death, it painfully stinks. But, I can thank Jesus for His redemptive blood. I can thank our Heavenly Father for the comfort He offers through His Holy Spirit. And, thankfully, I know this means an eternal hope awaits her.

Even though I face many things in my daily life and my mom's change in health hurts, I am still blessed. I work to see the beauty in my life even though things are going profoundly wrong. I know some people are afraid to laugh or smile when things are upside down. They feel it disrespects the gravity of the situation. But, I think it is necessary to breathe, see the blessings, and embrace the good to survive mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have a wonderful husband; we are a team and support each other. I have sweet kids who may make things challenging but are lovely sources of love, laughter, and exploration. As I see them trying to figure out who God wants them to be, I can't help but be in awe of the process. I have work, food, and a home. And best of all, I have wonderful reminders of God's handiwork - big beautiful snowflakes slowly flitting to the ground, sunsets, people who ask if they can help when your arms are full, to name a few - oh, and laughter.

So, onto the nuts and bolts:

I wanted to share what is on my heart today. But, I didn't want to overlook how God has brought me to these thoughts. Any of these topics are just scratching the surface. I guarantee that on a different day, I might apply other verses to these topics. In addition, I am sure that others would have other verses they would use. There are many places where God speaks to these bigger topics. I encourage you to dig deeper - read and study God's Truth for yourself. We can encourage one another where to look, things to consider, and ways God speaks to us. But, it is vital that we allow Him room to speak directly to us. Here are a few verses to consider:

As a tip, in addition to carving out some time to read and pray before I start my day, I have a few apps that send me Bible verses throughout the day; they give me a quick reminder and usually provide me with something to think about or pick up my mood (YouVersion - also listed as Life.Church Bible, Biblical Prescriptions, and Our Daily Bread).

God did not design the evil, painful, unfair things happening to our world

Satan is fighting for this world, which Jesus stated to the apostles before His death, "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me" John 14:30 (ESV)

Ephesians 2:1-3 points to satan's hold being broke, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." (ESV)

Ephesians 2:4-8 goes on to declare that God loves us enough to create a plan of redemption through Jesus. So, not only did God not create this evil, He created a plan to undo it, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (ESV)

God wants to guide us toward His loving plans, Jeremiah 29:11 declares "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (ESV)

The circumstances that beat us up and try to destroy us are not part of God's initial design; they occurred as a result of free will, which led to the choice of sin. James 1:13 states, "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."

There is eternal hope through Christ Jesus - we do not need to be good enough to receive it.

There is a reason that John 3:16 is a beloved passage; it makes it clear that Jesus's redemptive blood saves us - "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (ESV)

The discussion in Matthew chapter 19 is worth considering. After Jesus tells the rich man to sell his possession for his salvation (as a way to challenge what he values) and the rich man walks away broken-hearted, the disciples ask, "who then can be saved." Jesus responds in verse 26 by stating, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” God blessed us by moving our salvation away from being perfect. We are saved through Jesus's redemptive blood and our faith.

God intends us to produce good works, but our works do not save us. Ephesians 2:8-10 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (ESV)

Galatians Chapter 5 also considers the burden we place on ourselves when we believe that we have to be good enough to receive salvation. Paul essentially asks why we would want to go back to the old way, the old covenant (in this verse shown through circumcision), when we experience freedom under the new covenant (Jesus's death and resurrection). Verses 5 and 6 specifically state, "For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." (ESV)

I encourage you to dig deeper. There are many more verses that support God's plan to save us through His grace and mercy. I pray that you are willing to see how much God loves you.

God cares, we can call on Him, and He reaches out to us.

Back to John 3:16, take a moment to realize how plainly it says that God cares - "For God so loved the world..." There is no confusion about His feelings; He loves us!

Philippians 4:6 makes it clear that we can reach out to our Heavenly Father in difficult times, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11-13 makes it clear that we can call on God, "call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (ESV)

Another well-quoted verse is Psalms 23:1-3, which shows how God makes Himself available when we are worn and weary. He wants us to come to Him so that we can be renewed and strengthened. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Jesus sought to save and teach us by example. He loved us enough to become human flesh, to battle the burdens of our sins, and to redeem us so that we might approach God. John 15:12-17 states, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another." (ESV)

1 John 4:7-12 makes God's love and compassion clear, "for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God... In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." (ESV)

To really know God, we must make time to read, study, and pray independently.

In Jeremiah 29:11-13, it is clear that we are suppose to pray and seek God, which we can do through thoughtful study. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (ESV)

Hebrews 4:12 shows the strength of God's Word, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (ESV)

Beyond the verses in which God tells us to know Him, there is a logical point, would you anticipate knowing someone if you never interacted with them?

With the love of God, the redemption of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will fare better when we work on our relationship with God and desire Him in every part of our life.

Philippians 4:7 makes God's protection of our character clear, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

One of my absolute favorite verses is Matthew 22:37-39. After the Sadducees fell silent with amazement after questioning Jesus, the Pharisees ask which Commandment is the most important. Jesus wisely responds and shows God's compassion. He wants us to love Him and each other. How much better would the world be if we worked to make God's will first and followed it up with loving others? "And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

To go with the theme of love, Paul clearly defines love so that we can see what a wonderful life we could experience if we operated from the point of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away." (ESV)

An easy life is not guaranteed just because we believe or reach for God, trust Jesus, or listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It would be wonderful if being a faithful follower was a recipe for a challenge-free life. But, many places clearly state we will face challenges because sin is in the world. In God's time, we will be beautifully blessed; we have the knowledge that things will be better. In the meantime, God will use these challenges to shape us. With our thoughts, soul, mind, and actions shaped by God, we can have our best life possible, pain and all.

In John 16:33, we are told that we will face trouble. Jesus was not masking His words; He states that life will bring challenges, but He also affirms that He is here for us, "I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!

The truth of this challenging world is presented in 2 Timothy 3:1-7, "But understand this, that there will come times of difficulty in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." (ESV)