God's Faithfulness in Our Weakness
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes some people able to stand in the face of great adversity. Sometimes, it makes no sense what we go through. As I sit and write this from an ER hospital bed, it can’t be anymore a reality for me. Chronic illness can break a person, adding to dealing with the ups and downs and feelings of depression. It’s times like these that we feel beaten down by the world, others and even an unseen enemy. There is a hope in one that shows Himself strong in our weakness.
The tragedies of war, mass shootings, political divisions, racism, illness, death. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. What does that mean? Living in a fallen world means we struggle with sin everyday. We experience heartache and pain. None of it though was ever really God’s plan for humanity. Mankind fell from our original position in the Garden of Eden. Yet, we were made in the image of God.
Genesis 1 - v26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” v27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
I often think about this pivotal moment. Even though they were made in His image, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s directive to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sin entered the world through their choice. (Genesis 2:17 & 3:6-7) Due to their disobedience, we now live in this sinful world and all creation “groans” under the consequences of our sin (Romans 8:22).
The truth is, even though we live in a fallen world, the faithfulness of God still persists through the difficult and trying times. He remains present in every situation. It’s hard to consider this because we cannot comprehend God’s ways or thoughts. I want to yell at Him, asking Him where He is during these moments.
I had a discussion with my children about this recently. How we must remember that God is always near. It may seem like He may be aloof or distant, but His Word says, “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” “He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.” “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Through it all, He carries us.
It’s so important to remember to stand firm on His promises. It is the fuel poured on the fire of faith which we are responsible to never let die and to fan into flame. We are being molded into what God wants us to be. Often in order to do that God uses that which we would never choose to go through on our own. Let His hope be in you.