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My circumstances are not an accurate indication of God’s
presence in my life. Sometimes bad things happen to good people – God’s people.
Just like sometimes good things happen to bad people. The reality is: Good and
bad circumstances happen to all people, and if my circumstances are not what I
had hoped for, they are not necessarily because God is absent or out to get me.

There is not a special formula we follow to keep us free
from trouble.

There is not a certain phrase we say that protects us.

The truth is that God is never absent from His children. God
promises to be with us. He doesn’t promise us a problem free life – but He does promise to never leave us or forsake us. I do not go through the
times of crisis alone. Ever.

Hard times, difficult circumstances, do happen. Even to
God’s people. Sometimes when we are in the midst of the mess, our perspective
on what is happening or why it is happening is easily skewed. But what if our
perspective were changed? “What if the wilderness season we want to avoid is
the faith-deepening season our soul really needs?”(-Lysa TurKeurst) What if God
in His infinite wisdom and great love is allowing something painful for a
greater purpose?

Several weeks ago now, I was listening to a sermon series
called “Hope In The Dark” by Craig Groeschel. The sermon series was based on a
book written by one of the minor prophets of Israel that is found in the Old
Testament. It is the book of Habakkuk. In this book, Habakkuk, a prophet of
God, is calling out to the LORD for help. Things in Israel have gotten bad.
Evil is everywhere. God seems a million miles away. Habakkuk calls on God for
help, and God answers Habakkuk, but not in the way that he was hoping He would.
God allows His people to stay in the midst of the crisis, and actually allows
more hardship by stirring up their enemy to come against them. Things went from
bad to worse. And yet, God was still on His throne. God still loved His people.
God had a plan and a purpose in what He was doing. The outcome of this time led
to some necessary growth and heart changes amongst His people.

God doesn’t always act how
we want, in the way we want, when we want. And yet, this is not an
indicator of His presence or love for us. He is God. We are not. His ways are
higher and greater than our ways. His plans are for the good of those who love
Him – even when they do not seem good to me.

So what do you do when you find yourself in a crisis? You
search yourself. You ask the tough questions. Am I right with God? Am I putting
Him first? Am I relying on and trusting Him? Is there any sin I need to
confess? And then, you lean in. Lean into Him. Talk to Him. Spend time with
Him. Be real with Him.

“When you have nowhere else to turn, when your own ideas and
resources have evaporated, when your control over a situation is in shambles,
God is still there. When your knees ache from kneeling in prayer but you can’t
tell if He’s even listening, God is still there. When people laugh at you,
mocking you for your faith, God id still there. When you don’t know if you can
make it another day, God is still there. When the voice of your enemy is
whispering to you that you should just give up, God is still there.’

“He loves you. He is for you. He will never leave you nor
forsake you. He will never let you down. He may not do exactly what you want.
But He is always faithful, no matter how much your circumstances may seem to
indicate otherwise.’

“No matter what happens in your life, the LORD is in His
holy Temple.” – Groeschel, Hope In The Dark

“The LORD appeared to Him from far away. I have loved you
with an everlasting love: therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.” –
Jeremiah 31:3 “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of
trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble
into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the
waters surge!” –Psalm 46:1-3

God sees. God hears. And God adores you. He had not abandoned
you.

Blessings!