“You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Psalm 66:12)
One of the music groups I listen to has a song that says God will take us through flood and fire and raging storms. I think He took me through all three this week. After a trip to the emergency room at the local hospital when it appeared I might bleed to death, then a transport to a larger hospital, with the end result being that I was told I was a near hopeless case and my best chance at healing lie in going to a special clinic for hopeless cases.
There are times when it seems you can hardly wrap your mind around a situation, and that was my case this week. You can get so worn and weary that you don’t even have the strength to question God or wonder why He is allowing you to go through so much. You can get to a state of shell shock that leaves you wondering if you have entered the “twilight zone”.
I have no clue why God has “trusted” me with so many challenges. I often think He gives me too much credit. I cannot fathom how others, in worse shape than myself, endure and survive their many challenges.
Why God? The universal question arises from all who suffer unfairly in this world.
My wife said to me recently: “This is not fair!” regarding my health situation. I agreed with her that it wasn’t.
Life often is not fair. Yet what is left to do after all the frustrations and questions? For the Christian it comes down to faith and trust. Can we, do we trust a God who allows His children to suffer so? He never promised us that we we would not suffer, indeed, just the opposite.
“Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God'” (Acts 14:22).
We must pass through many troubles, and yet keep our faith intact. This is our challenge when new hardships and greater troubles come our way, to rely upon God, through the flood, through the fire, and through the raging storm.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are clueless as to why so often we must suffer hardships, yet we know You are with us through these raging storms. Amen.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas has lived through the storms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Crohn’s Disease, and the problems arising from them. God has remained faithful to see him through.
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 