Today at church I again saw the “reality of life” manifest itself in the faces and conversations of friends who are in front of very difficult and challenging circumstances.  

Four men who have been in what they felt were secure jobs were recently laid off.  Another handful felt their employment will soon come to an end.  One friend just announced his separation from his wife of ten years.  Another is struggling with a wife who is wrapped in an addiction that has impacted her marriage, family and overall day-to-day existence.  Many members in our congregation are still recovering from the devastating flooding that impacted our community in early May.  And, the list of challenges, heartache and pain goes on and on.

Reality bites and sometimes it bites hard.  Let’s face it:  it hurts and, many times, we feel there is no way out.  There is no hope. Our church has not been immune to the current economic climate nor has it been shielded from cracks where the evil one can enter and tear apart marriages, relationships and spiritual well-being.  

So, what do we do? 

We must turn to God for our peace and hope.  Plain and simple.  Difficult times are not new to our Heavenly Father.  He knew we would face them in life.  In the Gospel of John, God told us we would have struggles:

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33

How to we deal with the affliction of those hurting?  Well, take a look at the second part of the verse – our hope is in Him because He has “overcome the world.”

Furthermore, in the twelfth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans says

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." – Romans 12:12

These are verses that are very simply stated, but sometimes very difficult to carry out.  Yet, if we do embrace God’s counsel found in His Word our pain and suffering does not go unnoticed.  As I have noted in other writings we do have a great intercessor in our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is advocating for us as well as walking WITH us.  He knows our hearts, our fears, our tears and our joys. We are not alone.

I encourage anyone who is facing turbulence in their life to seek out an elder, deacon, pastor or friend who can provide prayer and encouragement.  We might not be able to immediately fix the problem(s), but we can offer an ear and a prayer to ease the sting of “life’s realities.”

Grace and peace.

JMG