How Should a Christian Act in Hardship?

Here is a post that a friend of mine, Rebekah Eddy, did on her blog, Rebekah's Remarks. Thanks for letting me share this touching post about loss and what it means as a Christian!

Sometimes God does things we don't understand as humans. Things that make us ask "why?" When the sun is shining and everyone is happy, it's easy for Christians to heave sighs of contentment and say, "God is in control." But when the storm clouds roll in, covering the sun and pouring sorrow, pain, and loss down on us, our true faith is tested. Suddenly we begin praying more, reading our Bible, asking others to pray for us. Songs and verses we've sung or read all our life take on whole new meanings when we see them in a completely different light. Just a few days ago, one of my [Rebekah's] Christian friends who had just found out in April that she was pregnant, went into her doctor for an ultrasound and had her worst fears revealed: the precious life she had been wanting so badly to bring into this world had been taken to heaven instead. There was no baby, no heartbeat. When I heard about this happening, my first reaction was anger, and I immediately asked God "why?". I demanded answers for thousands of other questions which also stormed through my mind. By taking that precious life before it came into our world, He had thrown not only the young parents-to-be into deep sorrow, but also the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and church family. Wouldn't it have been so easy for Him to let it live and keep everyone happy? But we don't understand. God is God, and He knows best, even when we think WE do. He IS in control, no matter what the circumstances. Despite the sorrow, the anger, the tears...God knew what He was doing, and He did it (believe it or not) for our best. But even when we know this-even when we understand that we can never comprehend God, and that He always knows best-it doesn't mean we don't feel the hurt, the pain that accompanies such a loss. We still cry, we still ask "why?" But there is an answer to why God allows pain and sorrow into our life: it brings us closer to Him. The trails we go through can make us better Christians if we let it, and it helps us help others when they go through the same loss we did. . . . God is in control. He loves us no matter what. He knows what He's doing, even if we don't. Whatever He does is for our best.

Thank you, Rebekah, for listening to the Spirit's voice to post this! I know that many will be touched by it! We need to always remember that God is in control and He knows what is best for us even though it may not seem like it at the time. He loves us so much—we are His masterpiece! Even in the hard times, in the loss, in the pain, He is there. He is Emmanuel—God with us. In those times of trial, remember this and trust Him. Let your light shine through the darkness to all those who do not have Jesus to climb to. 






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