An Umbrella of Grace: Inspiration for Challenging Times
t was my first day of getting back to normal after the devastating experience of pregnancy loss. My sweet mom had just left our home after two weeks of being by my side and stepping in to take over all of my domestic duties, and I’d finally gained a little strength to leave the confines of my room and attempt to face the world – my life – again. I was ready to begin picking up the pieces of my shattered heart and get my life back to a place of normalcy.
I’d come to grips with the fact that although I’d taken a huge hit in the gut and was knocked completely off my feet, I couldn’t just lay there and wail and wallow in my pain. I had to get up, pull myself together, and take another swing at life.
That’s what I’d decided to do that day. But before I could give it my best shot, I took another hit.
When I heard my husband’s keys at the door, I thought it was strange that less than an hour after leaving for work he was home again. He must’ve forgotten something, I thought to myself. “Did you forget something, babe?” I asked as he walked through the door.
“I just lost my job,” he said with the blankest stare on his face.
I laughed, thinking that my prankster husband was playing another one of his not-so-funny jokes on me. “Ha-ha, not funny,” I responded, “what did you forget?”
But before he could answer me again, the look in his eyes told me that he wasn’t joking, and the most nervous feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. Although I knew what he was about to say, I inwardly prayed that I was wrong.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t wrong and he had indeed lost his job. On the exterior, I tried to appear strong, encouraging my husband that everything would be fine and convincing him that God had something better for him…for us. Although those uplifting words were flowing from my mouth, inside I once again felt my heart shattering to pieces.
Really God? Another loss? What are You doing? Why is this happening? So many thoughts flooded my mind. In that moment I could not understand why God was allowing us to take another devastating blow. I felt like I was being kicked while I was already down.
Just as feelings of uncertainty overwhelmed me after the loss of our baby, they instantly consumed me after learning of the unexpected loss of our main source of income. With three children, a home, and all of the other necessities of day-to-day living, I worried about how we’d maintain.
I snuck away to my room and cried before the Lord. I needed to know why, after my life seemed to finally be on track, calamity was hitting so hard and knocking me off course. Why were these things happening to me? I needed answers, and that’s exactly what the Lord gave me.
Here’s the lesson I learned:
Living life for Christ does not excuse any of us from experiencing challenging, troubling times. Psalm 34:19 tells us that the righteous will encounter many afflictions. Being a good person or following God’s principles of holy living does not give anyone an exemption from a few hard knocks from time to time. Affliction, though it does not feel good, is not always a bad thing. In fact, in Psalm 119:71 David says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Trouble has a way of drawing you in to the Lord, giving you an opportunity to know Him on another level. It’s in the midst of troubling times where your faith is strengthened, your character developed, your spirituality matured, and your purpose further revealed.
Tribulation does not come to knock you off course, but to ensure that you remain on course with God’s path for your life. How so? By pulling you into fervent prayer, intense worship, and deeper Bible study; thus, bringing you into closer communication with the Lord.
I like to think of hard times this way – If you never felt pain, how would you know He’s a healer? If you never cried tears of sorrow, how would you know He’ll wipe your tears and give you joy? If you never suffered lack, how would you know He’s a provider? If you never go through, how would you know that He can bring you out?
All of these things allow God the opportunity to prove His awesome power in your life. Besides, without a test, how would we ever be able to overcome by the word of our testimony? You see, just as Romans 8:28 says, all things work for our good.
Though it has been tough trying to recover from one hit after the other, God’s grace has been abundantly sufficient.
And when it rains, as it does in everyone’s life at some point or another, I am thankful that His grace is the umbrella that covers me when it pours and keeps me from being washed away.
So instead of singing why me through troubling seasons, I choose to thank God for them; I choose to pray through the pain, worship through the worry, and meditate on the Word through the madness. I want God to know that He can trust me to be faithful in the good times, as well as the bad.
I’m sure it may seem like you’re suffering hit after hit, but it is true that God will never put more on you than you can bear. He trusts that you can handle it and come through it just fine. I heard it said that He gives the toughest battles to His strongest soldiers, so I encourage you to join me in giving God thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Say Lord, thank You for trusting me with adversity and affliction, affording me the opportunity to prove that You can trust me with purpose.
5 Comments
Reader Comments (5)
Thank you for your transparency. You have helped me greatly!
Ora, thank you for reading. Knowing that this helped you has encouraged my heart.
Blessings to you,
LaKeisha
This was the ministry I needed today. My husband got laid off last week. We are expecting our first baby. I'm devastated right now and I felt like you was talking right to me. Thank you!
LaKeisha,
Wow! I wasn't expecting this but I know how you felt. Last year my husband and I were hit with three major blows from August-December. The final blow came when my husband lost his job a few days after Christmas. He was the sole provider for my 4 children and I for 12 years. I couldn't believe nor understand why all this was happening to us. I cried out to the Lord, held onto my faith and confessions but the reality didn't change. I dreaded the thought of leaving what I considered my first ministry and full time job of mothering and returning to full time work outside the home. This whole thing has been very hard and emotionally devastating for me. It has taken me 1 year to come to grips with my new reality and honestly even though I know I must get back out there, I still haven't committed myself to making that move. I feel like I am stuck. I really needed this encouragement today. Thank you
Thank you for reading, ladies! It blesses my heart to know this article has encouraged you.
Ketta, I know how hard it can be to not worry, but trust that God's got you and He will supply your every need according to His riches in glory. I'm praying for you and your family.
Lynn, Thank you for sharing your story. I can almost exactly relate. Thank God for His grace, as it will continue to carry both you and me through challenging times.
Blessings to you!
XOXO
LaKeisha