When the S@#t Hits the Fan
The climb might be tough and challenging, but the view is worth it. There is purpose for that pain; you just can’t see it right away.
Victoria Arlen
Life can be pretty tough sometimes.
Seriously, we all face tough times. Life can be real hard.
We face health issues. We face job challenges. We face obstacles in our relationships. We face family disagreements. We face financial failures. We face hardships of many kinds.
No one is immune from tough times.
When we face troubles and tribulations in life, it can be easy to doubt, to become angry, to give up. These are natural responses. And I don’t blame you!
I’ve gone through times of struggle – I may even be going through one of those times right now. I’ve had these responses. But I’ve also been comforted by God’s Word, because the Bible provides some clear encouragement for times when we face trouble – for times when the s@#t hits the fan.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
James encourages us to have joy in our troubles. He reminds us that the hardships provide us with a path towards maturity.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
There isn’t a promise of ease in any of these passages. There’s no promise that we will fully understand the challenges we face in life. There’s no guarantee of a nice bow on the situations we encounter. But there is a promise of God working – in ALL things.
As you face troubles in your life, I encourage you to trust and lean on God and His understanding. He will make your path straight. God’s straight path may not seem straight to us at first, but I’ve seen over and over again that God knows what He’s doing.
This week, Nick Foles, the quarterback who led the Eagles to a victory in Super Bowl LII, recently spoke to reporters about his return to the starting line-up for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was injured during the first game of the season, and he could easily have given up or blamed God for the trouble he faced after coming to play for a new team. Here’s how Nick dealt with his trouble:
Not sure I can say it any better than that.
The next time the s@#t hits the fan in your life, remember this – God is great and so is his faithfulness.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)