Life's Struggles Draw us Closer to God
"These trials are to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure."—1
Peter 1:7 (NLT)
It's hard for us to perceive that God uses adversity for our good. However,
I have a glimpse of this understanding as I think about the time I worked at
the clinic administering immunizations to infants and toddlers.
While I drew up the fluid from the vial to fill the syringe for their
injection, each parent tried their best to calm their child's fears and
steady them for the procedure. As I took the sharp needle and punctured a
small whole through their tender layer of skin and tissue, they let out
screams of terror. Their tears filled eyes and quivering lips pierced my
heart. However, there was no way I could explain to these young ones that
this was for their good. Due to their limited understanding, no amount of
words could help them comprehend that the serum in this injection contained
antibodies to save their life.
Oftentimes, when the procedure was over, I gently stroked their shoulder to
comfort them. Most of them responded by withdrawing from me. They wanted
nothing to do with a woman they perceived only brought them pain.
When trouble and adversity comes our way, it leaves the sting of pain in our
mind and emotions. Oftentimes, we look to God with tear filled eyes and
cries of confusion wondering how He could let this happen to us. Sometimes,
we respond like a frightened and hurt child and withdraw from God. But God
wants our trust. He uses these circumstances to draw us closer to Him and
strengthen our faith.
Oftentimes, our adverse circumstances cause us to feel weak-willed and
unable to carry on. We're not sure we have enough faith to make it. But
think about the fact that each day we have the faith the sun will come up
and go down, and that there will be air available for us to breath. If we
trust God to do these things, we can trust Him to come through for us in our
uncertain times. To overcome adversity we must stand firm bundled in the
blanket of our faith.
Annettee Budzban