Mounting With Wings

Guest blog author, Bethany Powell

It was around 3 AM. I was almost asleep when the mucous in my mom’s throat made a growling sound again. Her trach teased me, yanking me awake for another round of suctioning. A cruel merry-go-round: dozing, snapped awake, repeat. My mind flooded with frustration. Lord, you know my limit. I’m done. My mom is too. Why aren’t you helping us? Why haven’t you just healed her already? I’m so tired… please, do something. To be continued…

Have you ever had those kinds of thoughts before? Maybe you lost a loved one, have had a broken relationship, internal struggles, stress at work or school, or financial issues that you cannot get your mind off of today… Whatever it is, God sees and knows. The question is…what do we see? Are we seeing God and the trials we face as we really should?

The view we have of God and trials will make or break our Christian experience; only when we have the right focus can we say “God is good” at all times.

Our View of God
What is our view of God? The question really is…do we personally know Him? Or is He just a theory to us? Psalms 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is GOOD; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” If we do not personally taste and see God’s love, we cannot trust Him and believe that He is truly good.

We cannot trust someone we do not deeply know and spend time with. The times when I’ve struggled the most in believing that God is really, truly good are the times when I have not been as intentional in making time to commune with Him. Our view of God is greatly affected by the intentional time that we spend with Him, or lack of it.

Our View of Trials
I wish I could say that my family and I always view trials as we should. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but we have our heavy moments with trials, too. We all have trials. My head would be buried in the sand if I thought that my family and I were the only ones going through trials. Let us remember that hard days fade, but His goodness lasts forever. It’s all going to be alright if we cling to Jesus in this wild ride.

A few years back, I remember meeting a poor, old, bitter man who lost his wife to cancer. He used to be a Christian, but after the huge trial of losing his beloved wife, he sadly decided to go on the busy “highway” away from God.

Then I think of a dear young lady named Rebekah Hill who passed away from cancer a couple of months ago. She was one of those people who exuded the love of Jesus, making everyone around her feel so special. During her long battle with cancer, she said, “Know that even in the darkest of valleys – our God is still good; our Jesus is still faithful; and His grace is still sufficient!” Her life impacted so many people, and I know that many stars will be in her crown because she viewed trials as a reason to cling even tighter to her Savior instead of using them as an excuse to run away from Him.

These stories remind us that we can have two different views during our trials – either we can trust that God is with us and cling even tighter to Him, or run away from Him and assume that He has forgotten about us. God has never asked us to close our eyes to difficulties and trials, but He opens our eyes to resources for encouragement and strength if we let Him.

Purpose in Pruning
We often view trials as the worst thing that can happen, but without struggle, there is no growth. Just like a plant that is pruned, we need pruning in our lives too, since that’s the only way we will bear fruit and flourish spiritually. By saying this, I am not implying that trials are easy or something we ask for, but when they come, let us not think it is the end of the world for us.

Just like my dear mother has shown us, trials can bring even more passionate purpose and a deeper walk with the Lord. Time and time again, I have seen my mom’s story open up opportunities for ministry to strangers and fellow believers alike. There is power in surrendering our trials to the Lord and letting Him use them for His glory.

“God is Still Good”
Continuing my 3 AM story… In that difficult moment in the middle of the night, my dear mother said four simple words that broke me: “God is still good.” With tears streaming down my face, I knew it was time to surrender my confusion right then and there. I could be content because my loving Savior was still good and with me, even though things were not going as planned. (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Even though I miss my mom’s hugs and her loving voice, God is still good. Even when I miss my mom’s cooking and homemaking skills, God is still good. Even though I thought my life would look different and that I would be an overseas missionary by now, God is still good. Even when deep communication with mom is difficult, God is still good. Even when I want healing today, and it has not come, God is still good.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 reminds us that our trials are “light and momentary” compared to the eternity God has planned. There is a better day coming (as my mom loves to say)! We are safe if we stay close to Jesus through the many ups and downs in life. Remember, God is STILL good regardless of what you’re facing today.