We hear a lot about God’s faithfulness to us in times of trouble and adversity, but what about our faithfulness to God in times of trouble and adversity? What does faithfulness look like in the midst of confusion? As the preacher in Ecclesiastes said:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” (Ecc. 3:1-4)
The first thing we must remember is that in every season and at all times, we serve God who is unchanging. He alone is the one thing in life that we can look at and use for a point of reference in turbulent seas that never moves and is brighter than the midday sun. The stars are useful for navigating at night, but not so much during the day! We must find our point of reference if we are going to be faithful to God, lest we jolt to and fro with every wave that tosses us about and get turned around.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (1 Cor. 4:16-18)
The second thing we must remember is the fuller reality of life. Though our eyes see what is in front of them, they cannot see the whole picture, the whole reality of what is both seen in the material world and unseen in the heavenly realm. Paul reminds us that even though trials may wear us down and bring great difficulty, what is happening in our spirit is like weight training for our muscles—it is difficult and heavy but strengthens us and builds us up. Not only this, but there is no trouble in this life that eternity will not dwarf in glory.
As we remember God’s character and the fullness of reality, we begin to see a clearer picture of our own faithfulness. It is to acknowledge the time and the situation, while acknowledging an unseen reality and pressing on with the work we know to do even in the midst of trials. We continue to do what God has called us to do knowing that his good and perfect will shall in the end be done, and each Christian will be rewarded according to the lives that we lived and the work that we have done in the Kingdom of God.
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:6-7)
As we press through difficult times in our lives whether that be relationships, work, church, or societal, we do so aware of the larger picture and through a lens of faith in Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of our faith. A faith which has seen trials is one which will be purer and more refined, though it is never enjoyable in the moment.