We’ve been lied to….life is not always going to do what we want. Things are not going to turn out always as we had hoped. We are going to go through things that are too much for us!

In many faith-based circles there is a lie circulating that if you just believe in God, you’ll have rose gardens and sunshine at all times. This lie has caused many to be shipwrecked in their faith and trust in God and it grieves my heart deeply.

I know people personally who have struggled through life with valid questions about suffering and why God didn’t do things a certain way and all we’ve done in the church is come up with answers that are derived from human experience or trying to defend God, not on truth about God and Who He is.

Over the years, I’ve stopped trying to come up with answers to “why” and answer more from the hope that is within me. Bad, terrible, tragic things are going to happen and they are going going to come with no solutions at times. This is the earthly life. And when they do, we will be tempted to say that, “God is not good”.

But I have found a greater more anchoring truth: “God is benevolent, strong and will never abandon us in our trials. I’ve learned to view God in the truth of Who He is and not the invalidating, weak, controlling and fearful way that has been called faith but is nothing but witchcraft.

Life is very hard. Tragedy does come. We get wounded by people, we are traumatized by this broken world and all the atrocities we witness and none of us is immune. Not one!

To keep giving people pat answers to their problems, does nothing for their faith or their situation. We must, as Christ followers, share the truth. People cannot put their faith in empty formula’s, trite sayings, or human assessments about God, but in the Cornerstone that holds all things, including our lives, together. JESUS!

Jesus said:

³³ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

What things had He spoken to them before this verse? That it was time for Him to depart. His time of death had come and Jesus didn’t cause it not to happen, He even told them they would be scattered. BUT, that He had overcome the world.

The “world” is the system that is run by the prince of the power of the air, Satan, the kingdom of darkness that is diametrically opposed to all that is God. Jesus said, “I have overcome it., I’m over it, above it, I have authority over it. It cannot touch me.”

It is this knowledge and truth that gives us the strength we need to face any adversity. Yes, we will experience fear, uncertainty and questions. But there is one thing that is never in question: God is for me, not against me. God is with me and will never leave me. And He will uphold me in any and all circumstances. THAT is the victory!

There is always a fourth man in the fire with you! (See Daniel, Chapter 3)

THAT is the essence of faith: not that all things are going to work out the way I pray they will, but that all things I face, I don’t face alone. I face then with God and He will never leave or fail me.

Read Hebrews Chapter 11 and see what all those who claimed faith in God went through. It will change your perspective about what faith in God truly looks like and you’ll find yourself in good company.

Let Christ be Glorified in all!