Can our faith really flourish in the face of suffering and heart ache? I mean aren’t we doing good to just survive and get up in the mornings without killing someone let alone have a faith that is alive and growing? But yeah, I do think it’s possible to have a faith that grows and flourishes even in the middle of suffering. Not a perfect or pure faith because that doesn’t happen this side of heaven. Let me share some thoughts on how our faith can keep growing in the valley.
- Ask God to give you a verse of scripture to cling to during your valley. Write it out on an index card and carry it around with you. Read it every day and remind yourself that every bit of God’s word is true and alive for you today. *Psalms is a great book for trial times – especially Psalm 119. This Psalm rocked my world. It’s really rich in terms of dealing with suffering and seeing how there is great spiritual gain in affliction. I personally found comfort in the book of Job. It’s a heavy book in regards to loss but the last few chapters make the whole read worth it. And there’s nothing like gaining some perspective by reading the life of a real man named Job.
- Surround yourself with godly people who will pray for and with you. Stay away from complainers and chronic doubters. Job had a few friends like this and they did him no good.
- Remind yourself that what you are going through right now is a serious and devastating chapter that God is fully aware of and it’s a chapter. There is much more to be written. And if you are a follower of Christ it is working out for your good and his glory.
- If you find yourself wondering if Jesus is truly good, try reading the book of Luke to see how Jesus responds to people. Write out what you find. It’s interesting to note the differences in his response to religious people vs. non-religious people. Non religious meaning prostitutes, thieves, cheaters, societal out casts, terminally sick with nasty diseases, etc. It might surprise you. Might make you wanna have the common thread all the non-relig’s had.
- Get a journal and write your thoughts and prayers during your crisis time. Even when they include doubts. God can handle it. He already knows what you’re thinking. Go back a few months later and trace the hand of God and be in awe of what He is doing.
- Find some good music to your taste that speaks truth to your soul about who God is based on scripture. Let that dwell in your mind because you need to remind yourself of the truth even if it doesn’t feel like the truth.
- Let others in the Body of Christ help you. This is something we probably didn’t do very well in the beginning. We were new at this suffering thing and many times we did it alone. We got better at it at another difficult time in our life. Our church extended help and we leaned into it and it was a beautiful picture of Christ’s love for us through his people. It wasn’t easy to receive help but I look back at that time as such a sweet time in our church life.
We’re all different by God’s design and he walks us through suffering in different ways. His grace is intimately individual but who he is will always be the same for everyone. God is unchanging and His love is universal. Rest in that my friends.
What about you? Looking back, how has your faith flourished through suffering?
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