Catherine Mendenhall-Baugh explains how to strengthen your relationship with God during the tough times.
Is it true that 2021 is just around the corner? Whew! I can’t wait.
How often have you heard yourself and others say, "2020 has been a train wreck"? So many have experienced loss. Many have lost love ones, or lost jobs, some have lost connection with each other, and, undoubtedly, we have lost trust in our leaders; the list goes on and on!
We find ourselves fighting every day to make good decisions for ourselves and those we love while living through a deadly pandemic. Adding to this, many are coping with working from home and at the same time being our child’s teacher and yes, not being able to gather in prayer with others in church. Our connections are all on Zoom.
What is God asking of us in this very scary time? Why is God allowing all of this to happen? Where is God in all of this?
The answer: God is where He always was and always will be!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
So how do we keep this in mind when so much of our world appears to be tumbling down right before our eyes? Perhaps we could stop worrying so much and let go and let God. Easier said than done, I know. What can God do to help us with all of this? Well, God can do any good and perfect thing you could ever imagine.
Talking to God when we feel ourselves worrying, stressing, or feeling angry and frustrated; wow, how do we know He will even listen? You don’t know. You must rely on your faith and your relationship you have with God. Have you ever gone to a friend to unburden yourself when coping with a big problem, and that friend really came through for you and helped you in the end? It’s the same with God.
Take time to let God have a relationship with you, to get to know you. Apply the same tools you would with that close friend as you do with God. God truly does love us. Even if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died on that cross just for you. There is no love greater than the love of God for us, His children. Then if this is true, why did God allow all of this to happen to His children that he loves? Well, I still go back to what my sister likes to remind me: “It’s all about bringing us to our knees.” Her theory is that every good and bad thing that happens to us is done for that reason. Our purpose is to find God in everyone and everything. Our purpose is to go back to God. One thing that has come out of all of this past year: we are spending more time with family! Perhaps there’s a message from God there.
Looking at our daily lives and our need for grace and finding resolution in our hearts to keep a commitment to have a meaningful relationship with God seems to me the only place to have assurance in the true meaning of all we face in this life. It is there we find the answers as to why all the good and bad things we cope with in life.
Jesus had upset in His life. He lost friends who betrayed Him, He experienced temptation. He was persecuted and suffered at the hands of His tormentors, ultimately crucified and hung on a cross to die. He knew this life would have difficulties. He repeatedly reminded us through the Scriptures that all of us would face challenges but in the end, all roads would lead back to Him. It is through Him that we will find peace!
Copyright 2020 Catherine Mendenhall Baugh
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