I have wrestled with the idea of “God’s protection” since Joshua ran ahead to Heaven. Not everyday. But sometimes I will hear something that causes me to reflect on it again. A few weeks ago, I heard a woman say, “I praise God for protecting my husband. He was in a horrific accident that should have killed him, but God protected him.” My first thought was, “Does that mean God didn’t protect my son, and if He didn’t protect Joshua does that mean that He is to blame for Joshua’s death.” Thoughts like these can spiral out of control very quickly if we don’t ground ourselves and take our thoughts captive with a solid foundation of truths.
Hiding scripture in our heart is one of the best avenues for refuting the lies that often want to take up residence in our minds when we are hurting. It is natural for these ideas to pop into our heads especially when we are dealing with life’s difficulties. We have to be incredibly intentional about grabbing hold of them and getting rid of them so that those thoughts don’t become permanent residents.
Let’s take a look at what scripture tells us.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2
Truth #1: God never promised us an easy life here on earth. In fact, scripture very clearly tells us that life will be full of difficulties. There are so many examples in the Bible of faithful ones who experienced great tragedies: Job lost everything, John the Baptist was beheaded, Stephen was stoned to death, Christ was crucified for my salvation. He faced suffering and torture that I will never understand in order to rescue me from an eternity in hell.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
Truth #2: God is more concerned with our spiritual life than our earthly life. I recently heard someone say, “God wants me to be happy.” While I don’t believe that God enjoys watching us hurt on earth, I do believe that our eternal salvation is more important to God than our earthly comforts. Our life on this earth is but a vapor. Eternity is forever.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9
Truth #3: God is God, and I am not. I will never understand why terrible things happen; things like diseases, famine, poverty, abuse, neglect, death. And, even if I did understand, it would not lessen the sorrow that I feel. Jesus understands all things and knows all things, and He still wept at the news of Lazarus’ death.
Am I grateful that the sweet woman’s husband was protected? Absolutely! Do I wish that my story had a different outcome? Absolutely! Both of those things are true. Do I understand why some people have to face horrible illnesses and others don’t, why some struggle with addictions and others don’t, why some fight to feed their families every single day and others don’t. I have no idea.
What I do know is that I choose to trust God because I believe what His word tells me.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Despite what happens to me on this earth, I have the promise of His eternal protection in Heaven.
With Eyes on the Cross 