I think that’s the best part of life.
The unexpected blessings.
The feeling of being out of the woods for a bit.
The feeling of finally being able to catch your breath after 6 months of running on the fumes of your own sanity.
The dust settled.
The storm passed.
You can finally feel the warmth of the sun on your face even in the middle of December.
God’s silence is never His absence.
It’s His presence than allows the existence of your persistence in the midst of adversity.
It’s in these last 6 months that I’ve been reminded that without Jesus—
I can do nothing.
I am nothing.
My existence means nothing, if He’s not shining through me.
The journey of growth means nothing if He’s not glorified through it.
Some may ask… “Why would a God who claims to love us not spare us from experiencing turbulent and terrible things? Why does he choose not to intervene?”
I have a couple thoughts on this—
1. Cultivating Dependency:
Life’s storms force us to acknowledge our inability to be our own god. Our ongoing turbulence reminds us of our own humanity and that we have our limits in our own capabilities to alter our reality.
It forces us to acknowledge our own vulnerability and dependency on something greater than ourselves.
In the midst of adversity, we often find ourselves turning to God— being reminded of His sacrifice, and anchoring ourselves to Him instead of only being able to tap into our human strength we can now be in alignment of living through the adversity through the power of the Holy Spirit guiding and directing us through it.
2. Refinement Through Adversity:
Just as fire refines precious metals, storms refine our character. Adversity tests our resilience, patience, and faith. It is in the crucible of challenges that we discover the strength we didn’t know we possessed. God allows storms to refine us, removing impurities and shaping us into vessels better equipped to carry His grace and love.
3. Building Empathy and Compassion:
Experiencing storms enables us to empathize with others facing similar struggles. Through community we can provide compassion and hope to others and helping them not feel so alone in their own struggle.
4. Navigating the Depths of Faith:
Faith is easy when the seas are calm, but it’s in the storms that our faith is tested and strengthened. God allows challenges to deepen our trust in Him. As we weather life’s trials, we discover a reservoir of faith within us, knowing that even in the darkest moments, God is a steadfast light guiding our way.
5. Redirecting Our Focus:
Storms disrupt our routines and shake us out of complacency. They prompt us to reevaluate our priorities and redirect our focus towards the eternal. God, in His wisdom, uses storms to draw our attention away from our temporary circumstances that interfere with his plans and purposes for us to live to glorify Him.
Our turbulent times are blessings in disguise because these are the experiences that shape us and grow us into looking less like ourselves and more like Christ.
If people look at me, but don’t see Christ in the way I live, regardless of my circumstances, then I’m just another bandwagon Christian who only shows up for Jesus’s birthday party, but not staying long enough to have a relationship with Him.
Jesus was an unexpected blessing to those who weren’t looking for Him.
A humble, beautiful change-the-world unexpected blessing.
Instead of asking God why you must face challenging seasons, maybe it would be worth considering to ask,
“God strengthen my ability to rely on you in this challenging season. Give me the ability to see and feel you working in and through me in this difficult time. Help me to know and believe that you haven’t abandoned me.”
He wants a relationship with you, and sometimes, it starts with humble prayers like that.
And then there will be a day that will come, when the season changes (and trust me it always changes) and you’ll be thankful for the strength you developed through the pain you endured— and even more appreciative when the calm returns.
The calm won’t stay, but you’ll be better equipped with the right tools to be prepared for the next turbulent season.
andrea statler 