When It's Too Much

Last week as I prepared for my presentation and in keeping with their theme of mystery, I contemplated the question, "what do you when the circumstances in your life are not what you planned or too much to handle and it seems like God is not there or far away?"

Here are the basic points although while speaking them they were peppered with ad lib comments and stories because what I do in the moment is always different than what I write ahead of time. I frequently play off the crowd or God puts something in my mouth I hadn't planned on saying. However, I'm sure you'll get the gist. I further realized as I pondered these that they sound like "churchy" answers and they sound simple enough but they truly are difficult in action.

First, it begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't know how people get through things like death, loss, hatred, etc. without Him. Those situations are then hopeless. 1 John 1:9 tells us how simple it is - confess with your mouth and believe in your heart.

But what about those who know Christ and are walking with Him, what are we to do? What happens when everything begins to stack up and we just can't see God in the middle of it?

Make a choice to believe God. Not believe in God, but actually believe Him. Get over what you feel and rely on what you know. God never left you. Joshua 1:5 & 7 tell us that God will never leave us or forsake us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us God has a plan and purpose for your life. It is not haphazard or accidental to Him. God knew you in your mother's womb and ordained every single day before one of them came to be (Psalm 139). Believe God's word.

Trust God. In a world where everyone will let us down eventually, God is the one we can fully and completely trust. Psalm 37:5 tells us "commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him." And Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. You will never go wrong trusting God.

Pray. We really underestimate prayer but few other things compare to the power we have when we pray. But what about those times when we don't know what to pray or can't stop crying long enough to pray? Guess what? God handles that too. Romans 8 tells us the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. So many times I can barely eek out "help me" but it's good enough because God honors the desire and act of prayer.

Let God comfort you and hold you up. Face it--your neediness will eventually exhaust every single earthly relationship you have. But you can never exhaust Christ. He is the only one who can take the full extent and deep cavity of your needs and love you at the end of it. Let those around you off the hook! 2 Corinthians 1 tells us He is the God of all comfort.

Lastly, praise God through it. What kind of faith does it take to praise God when things are going well? Not much. But what about when things are going badly? Job 1:21 tells us the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, may the name of the Lord be praised. We may never have answers to some questions this side of Heaven but we can sure ask. However, when God chooses not to answer our questions, we must accept that and continue in our praise and worship of who He is. The truth is, God doesn't owe us anything, not an explanation, not an answer. Some things we just can't understand in our humanness. Isaiah 55:8 says "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."

Life is hard. Life is a mystery. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone next year. We need a Savior who is in control of it all. We desperately need His help. That's the only way we'll be able to get through this mystery we call life.