Jesus, Take the Wheel: Uncontrollable Circumstances (Faith Series Part 2)

Uncontrollable Circumstances: Why Do We Experience Suffering?

There are moments in which you are trying to steer yourself through the storms of life. You find yourself feeling helpless or needing to take back some sense of control and take matters into your own hands. As a result, you find yourself further sinking deeper into the water, trying to find your own ways to resolve your circumstances. However, actively choosing to have faith brings you a level of peace and trust in God to meet all your needs through all storms you face. In this week's blog post, we will look at biblical evidence of the importance of faith during trials and tribulations.

Why do Christians Experience Storms: Trials and Tribulations

As Christians, we have all experienced challenges or hardship in life. You may have even heard the terms such as Trials and Tribulations to describe these uncontrollable circumstances. So what do Trials and Tribulations mean?

Trials: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Trials are "a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation." Thus, trials are the challenges, hardships, and difficulties we face in life.

Tribulation: According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, tribulation is considered to be the "distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution." Tribulation is the emotional and physical effects of the trials faced, leading one to experience a state of distress or suffering. Through our toughest battles and hardships comes emotional distress and suffering, leading us to learn, grow, and change. In Romans 5:3 3-5, it discusses what moments of suffering produce for Christians, such as:

• Patience

• Perserverance

• Spiritual Maturity

• Increased Faith

• Hope in God's promises.

"And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. Such hope [in God's promises] never disappoints us, because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." - Romans 5:3-5 (AMP)

The Effects of Trials and Tribulations: Feelings of Helplessness

There is an array of emotions you may feel when you are experiencing distressing times. You may notice feelings of guilt, shame, grief, anxiety, sadness, and anger. These emotions can be quite uncomfortable, leading you to attempt to take matters into your own hands to resolve the hardship you are facing. However, through each attempt, you notice that the outcomes are a temporary fix or completely ineffective. You may even realize that it puts you in a deeper hole than you began with, creating more problems than it resolves and leaving you feeling helpless. One scripture that comes to mind when there are feelings of helplessness is Matthew 19:26: "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Hold on to this reminder of how powerful God is, especially when you feel as if you have exhausted all options and there is nowhere else to turn. Recognize that although it feels impossible for you to overcome, nothing is too great for God.

Furthermore, while experiencing hardships, challenges, and suffering. You may also be experiencing bouts of loneliness. You may have the thoughts that you are facing these hardships all alone. It is important to recognize that you are never alone. If you believe in God and trust in his capabilities, you will find solace knowing that God is working things out according to his plan over your life. In Romans 8:28, it focuses on how God works for the good of his children; all things will "work together" for his ultimate plan and purpose over your life.

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. - Romans 8:28 (AMP)

How to Ride the Waves of Life?

Trust in God's Timing: Today, we are in a generation that needs instant gratification. Instant gratification occurs when an individual receives immediate satisfaction in what is wanted or desired. It can cause difficulty with one's patience. In this instance, when we seek instant gratification, our timing is not in alignment with God's timing. You may find that it leads you to take matters into your own hands. A verse that speaks to the importance of waiting for God's timing is Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (NIV).

Continuous Prayer: In the midst of hardship and suffering, you need to have a consistent prayer life, utlizing your prayer time to ask God for wisdom and guidance during challenging times and to alleviate any worries or anxieties you may be experiencing. In Philippians 4:6-7, it states that continuous prayer and trusting in God bring a sense of peace to one's heart and mind.

Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].- Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP)

Rejoice in the Midst of Hardship: The hardship that you face doesn't have to define your current mood or how you perceive your circumstances. You can choose how to respond. Philippians 4:4-5 (AMP) states, "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.

Change Your Mindset: When we experience hardships, we are quick to blame ourselves or our circumstances. Instead, identify what God wants you to gain or learn from your situation. Ask yourself: Is this a test of faith? Is my current hardship supposed to enhance my patience or self-control? Is this hardship supposed to increase my faith in God? In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Peter explains that trials create genuineness of your faith. Through trials, it creates a refining process in which God is shifting your character and ensuring that your faith is pure.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. - 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

Questions to Ponder:

• When you find yourself in the midst of hardship, how do you typically respond to your circumstances?

• Is there a scripture that you cling to when you face life's storms?

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