“When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.” – Genesis 39:3-4a
Disappointments, suffering, our life "storms" do not define our ultimate destiny. For God’s child, His unseen realities are truer than the pain we may feel. Flawed people, fleeting pleasure and fading hopes should propel us toward God, the only One who can satisfy our deepest longings. Disappointment, pain and even lingering suffering are profitable when yielded to God, who knows and loves us best. Injustice in this world makes us long for His perfect justice. Pain in this world makes us long for eternity, where pain and tears will be abolished. When the "storms" of our life look threatening and promise to break us of spiritually debilitating self-will and pride, will we trust that God is doing something good? When people fail us, will we remember God cannot.
As humans, we long for resolution. We enjoy movies and entertainment that solve all the suspense and tension in the allotted time. Some of us enjoy googling our questions to receive instant information. We like to see things resolved, and preferably fast. We do not like waiting. Waiting implies dependence on someone or something else to bring an answer or solution we lack and long for. We wait for the doctor because we need the expertise that a professional brings. We wait for needed rain because we are powerless to produce it ourselves. Waiting for God to bring resolution to suffering is perhaps hardest of all. What are we waiting on God to resolve, or at least help us understand? His plans and purposes far exceed our limited vision and understanding. Can we trust God, even when the answers are few, the pain is deep and the solutions invisible?
Even for believers, faith falters. In this life, our trust in God is neither complete nor perfect. Sometimes we face the day with bold, decisive faith. Other days, we struggle to believe what we know is true. Do we ever genuinely want to trust God but find a constant pull to focus on the obstacles? God is not shocked by our faltering faith. What do we do on that hard day when our faith falters and the visible challenges loom large and our "storm" seems headed for destruction? In these moments God Himself stokes the fire of our faith with His strength and power. He calls out faith when we struggle. God lets it be hard here so we will discover He offers more than this fallen world can offer.
Faith is not denying our "storms", but trusting God in the midst of it
