Remember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand

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Remember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand

One of the most gratifying moments of a parent’s life is when their adult children reflect on the decisions their parents made during their childhood and say, “Now I understand. You were right.”

Usually this epiphany doesn’t come until they have children of their own.

They experience the weight of responsibility that rests heavily on a parent’s shoulders and realize their God-given mandate to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” They recognize that parents have knowledge, wisdom, and insight children don’t have.

Feeling that overwhelming mama-bear or papa-bear desire to protect, they experience for themselves the fierce love that guides and motivates every action, rule, and decision.

In a sentence, they get it.

Truly a blessing are the ones who go one step further and not only say, “Now I understand,” but also, “Thank you.”

JOB

Job had a parent/child moment like this.

As he struggled through deeply painful circumstances, he questioned God’s goodness and wisdom. He suspected God character. He doubted God’s love.

But then his perspective changed.

Although he didn’t comprehend all God’s ways, he came face to face with God’s wisdom, power, and might. As God revealed Himself to Job, God lifted Job’s eyes from his suffering to his Savior. Then he understood, as much as was humanly possible, that God’s Father heart had motivated every decision He had made on Job’s behalf.

As my wise friend Jean Wilund says, “If we knew everything God knows, we’d make the same decisions he makes.”

“Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. . . . I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You.
Job 42:3

“Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).

You Can Trust God

If you’re struggling under the circumstances God has allowed into your life, you can trust Him.

He who formed the world, hung the stars in place, and calls the lightning from heaven’s storehouses is more than able to order the events of your life—for your good and for God’s glory.

His love for you is great, and His heart is kind. Trust and obey.

One day, when sin, sorrow, and death are banished forever, we’ll understand. We’ll get it.

God will wipe the tears from our eyes and wrap us in a hug so fierce it squeezes the breath from our lungs. We’ll rest in the comfort His presence affords and bask in the peace of our relationship. After we’ve lingered for a while, we’ll tilt our head back, look deep into our Savior’s eyes, and say,

“Now I understand. You were right.”

Now it’s your turn. When you’re struggling with difficult circumstances, what aspect of God’s character comforts you? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.