TRUSTING THE LORD AND OUR TEARS ARE PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE

Christians are human beings too. We are not immune to all what the rest of the world is subjected to. We do face tough times, and we do struggle with many things. There are times when pain and anguish strike our hearts intensely. There are times when tears roll down our cheeks. Many times we may think “Are we truly walking with God?” Such questioning doubts arise with the assumption that, “Since we are Christians waking faithfully and obediently with the LORD, how come we are having such intense struggles, sufferings and storms?” The underlying assumption for such a line of thinking is, “If God is truly with us, then why are we suffering?” This means, God is not with us. Reason – we may have sinned; or we may have, without our knowledge, walked away from the narrow path; or some other similar reasons may plague us.

The problem for such a reasoning is because of our faulty understanding of the life to which we as Christians are called to. May be we have begun to assume and adopt certain ways of thinking and living in our lives, as good and godly Christian principles and practices. Timothy Keller, a Presbyterian pastor, Reformed theologian, and Christian apologist, has something to enlighten us.
– “The problem is that contemporary people think life is all about finding happiness. We decide what conditions will make us happy and then we work to bring those conditions about. To live for happiness means that you are trying to get something out of life. But when suffering comes along, it takes the conditions for happiness away, and so suffering destroys all your reason to keep living. But to “live for meaning” means not that you try to get something out of life but rather that life expects something from us. In other words, you have meaning only when there is something in life more important than your own personal freedom and happiness, something for which you are glad to sacrifice your happiness.” – Timothy Keller

Also, there is a second wrong and ungodly assumption, because of which one may be struggling to make sense of our tears and our trust in the LORD. We may have erroneously assumed that a Christian would not have any problems. To put it alternatively, we may have begun to assume that, “if the LORD Jesus is with us in our lives, then we will never encounter any problems.” Even if we have to face them, the LORD will take care of everything and they will be solved. When they don’t, we get disturbed and doubts creep in. When problems persist, and the struggles turn into raging storms despite we walking faithfully and obediently with the LORD Jesus, our faith begins to get fractured, and our framework starts to fall apart.

Dear brothers and sisters, it is good for us to be assured, as Christians and the children of God that, our struggles, our sufferings, and our tears, are perfectly compatible with our trust in the LORD Jesus, our Christian walk, and our leaning upon Him for our strength and sustenance in our lives. The storms in our lives, and the presence of our Saviour in our hearts, are perfectly possible. Such a situation is like the two sides of the same coin. 
– “37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing? 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” – Mark 4:37-40

Many times we are like those disciples in the above passage – trusting the LORD, yet doubting Him at the same time. Disciples of the LORD Jesus for sure; yet very much human in our thoughts, words and deeds. Has not the LORD promised to keep us safe, and guide us with His hand, all through our lives? If so why get shaken up?
– “​1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Saviour…” – Isaiah 43:1-3a

May we dear brothers and sisters, learn to trust God. May we rectify our understanding about our LORD Jesus. Let us dig deeper into our God given Scriptures, the Holy Bible, which is the written Word of God. Let us realise that our struggles and our storms are perfectly compatible with our faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. LET US SEEK OUR GOD TO HELP US DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HIM, and THE WAY HE WORKS. Even so, the LORD help us.