Dealing With “That” Song... when your reality doesn’t line up with the promises
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes when I sing a song that says something like “He won’t fail” it kind of sends me into a bit of a tailspin. (Or maybe it’s the one that says, “God is good, good, so good...”)
I think of so many situations that still really hurt, or are confusing, or didn’t happen, and it makes me feel awkward singing a song like that.
Here are some situations that come to my mind:
- The accident that took young parents from their children.
- The couple that birthed a still-born child after years of infertility.
- The man who prayed for healing but still deals with chronic pain.
- The family who felt like God was guiding them to launch a business, but it’s been years and the business is just making it.
- The person who faced a trauma well, but then slowly drifted from active faith.
- Someone waiting ... for a transplant, or a husband, or a baby or ...
- The woman who is diligently trying to make an impact but often feels put off and misunderstood.
And the list could go on. What would you add?
It’s hard to be honest about it all. At least for me. I don’t want to question God’s faithfulness, but my reality doesn’t always line up with the promises.
We’re told to believe the promises, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like it makes any difference at all...
And yet, God loves it when we are honest, when I am honest.
He’s okay with what is going on in my heart. He only asks that we bring our hearts to Him, that we walk through this life with Him. In fact Jesus said,
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b
This world is not Eden. Sin made the world into something different. And we all participated. Because of sin we have pain, hurt, sickness, and more. Things just don’t work like they were supposed to, BUT even in the midst of our non-Eden world God the Father wants us to come to Him. Jesus wants us to know He gets it. He suffered in every way we do, He was tempted in every way we were. He made a way for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to be with us and in us.
If you are dealing with something hard – waiting for something, wondering why “that” happened, working through a difficulty – I pray you can take heart today somehow. I pray you will feel the Father’s heart of care for you, you will know Jesus really gets it and you will be able to let the Holy Spirit bring comfort and hope into your Spirit.
The stuff you are dealing with is real and the really hard part is that it may or may not resolve in this world. (Read the next verse, but don’t stop reading.)
In the great faith chapter, the author ends with,
"All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth. When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own." Hebrews 11:13-14
There is a “country” coming where there will be no pain, no fear, no sadness. It’s a second Eden of sorts.
Can I encourage you to take a break from whatever hurts or is hard right now? Right now. Close your eyes and dream with me of a future where there is only good. Where we reconnect with those who have gone before us, where whatever we are facing in this world is no longer an issue.
Here’s my prayer for you.
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
There is good out there too. God offers comfort, encouragement, and strength. “He won’t fail” in that offer. "He is good, good, so good..." He wants to meet you there in the midst of whatever you are facing,
I pray you can find a way to sing that song, and let the Healer minister to you in the midst of the words. He will meet you there. He is meeting me there.
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