"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
I don’t get to church very often any more. It’s been so seldom and I’ve changed so much that few people recognize me anymore. I’ve gained weight. I’ve cut my hair very short for convenience sake. I usually don’t feel like putting on make up. And they are used to me standing tall - and most of the time I’ve been in a wheel chair.
One day, after leaving the church service a gentleman I don’t know personally, but one who evidently follows our churches prayer list, came up to me and welcomed me back to church that day.
Then he said something very surprising to me. “God must trust you a lot to allow to to deal with so many challenges.” To say I was taken aback is an understatement.
God. Trusting me with challenges?
Huh?
I pondered on his statement for days. That seemed so contrary to how I was experiencing all that has happened to our family. God TRUSTING us with those challenges?
I think I am beginning to understand.
While the news of my husband’s new health problems sink in, I think back to those words. Yes. God knows that we will get through these challenges. I don’t know how, exactly. I do know we will do it relying completely on Him. I believe God knows that He is “growing our faith” with each and every trial, and that our dependency on Him grows day-by-day.
The challenges we face aren’t pushing us away from Him. They are drawing us near. I’m wanting to know more of who He is. I want to walk a closer walk. I’m learning what it means to surrender.
Does that mean we’ll go through this effortlessly. I doubt it. Yet, those words buoy up my spirits.
“God must trust you a lot to allow you to deal with all those challenges.”
I have always thought about it as our trusting God. I know that is true. But, how interesting to think that He desires to trust us as well.
He is trusting us ... to trust Him.
Father God, Thank you for the way you use the words of others to point us to You. Help us to realize that you truly do not give us more than we can bear and that whatever comes into our life can and will bring us closer to you if we choose to let it. Amen and amen.