By the Water

Life is full of its ups and downs, right? We have good times–when things just seem to be going really well. And then we have hard times, trials, challenges–when things just seem to be going all wrong.

“C’est la vie,” we say. “That’s just the way things are.” Which is true. Ups and downs are a reality of life for everyone. Good times and bad.

These past six months, I’ve been going through really good times. And these good times have felt all the better due to the fact that before then, life had been pretty dark.And I’m so grateful for what God has been doing in my life during these good six months. He’s been changing my heart and showing me mercies and wonders that I’ve never known. I feel like I’m learning so much right now–I’m learning things that I enjoy learning. I’m learning the wonderful lessons of a faith-filled life. I’m basking in God’s goodness and love, and I feel Him so close to me.

But there’s something inside of me that’s afraid. I’m afraid of the end of those good times. Because I know it will come. The ups and downs of life, right? I’m in an “up,” and I’m afraid to go down.

I think we can all relate. We’d rather stay in the good times–the peaks of life–than have to spend any time in the trials and tribulations. It’s only natural to want that. We know that some of our greatest growth comes through those hard times and challenges. We’re told that over and over again, and we know from experience that it’s true. But that doesn’t necessarily make us look forward to those hard times and challenges. Because they’re hard.

I’ve been celebrating and reveling in the grace and love that I’ve felt so abundantly from my Savior during this good season of my life–and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’re to be thankful to God in all circumstances.

But that’s just it, isn’t it? In all circumstances. I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this, but it’s easy to be thankful during the good times in life. It’s not so easy during the trials, is it? And that’s what scares me.

You see, it’s not like I’ve never been through trials–I have. And it’s not like I’ve never been through darkness–I have. I guess what makes this different is that the deepest darkness I was in, the trial I was most recently in, was basically of my own doing. I let temptation get the best of me–I saw it coming, but I did not flee. I didn’t run to my God to protect me. Instead I let the temptation approach, and I plummeted into the darkest place I had ever been spiritually–a life of bondage to sin and ignoring God.

And six months ago, God freed me from that sin. So I know what it’s like to screw things up in my own life and have God rescue me from myself. And it’s wonderful.

I guess what scares me is that I know that these good times–these “easy” times–won’t last forever. And perhaps the next trial won’t necessarily come about because of a sin I’ve fallen slave to. Perhaps the next trial won’t be something that was of my own doing or that I brought on myself. Perhaps it will simply be…a trial. A test. A tribulation.

And how will I respond during that? I worry that I won’t hold up. I worry that the only reason I feel so close to God right now is because of how good things are right now. I worry that when a true test of my faith and dedication to the Lord comes, I’ll crumble and lose any ground that I’ve gained over these past six months.

Enter the book of James. This book basically looks this topic right in the face and shouts truth at it. It’s great–I love this book.

James opens his letter by addressing trials and how we as Christians should act in the midst of them. I was reading through this letter this week, and there are parts of James — and a tidbit from Jeremiah — that really spoke to where I’m at right now. Again, I like lists. So here’s a list of what God’s been showing be this week in answer to my fear of trials.

1. If we are in Christ, we need to trust that He can get us through those hard times. James helped me remember that getting through those trials isn’t all about my capabilities. It’s about God’s capabilities and His faithfulness. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

It’s not about relying on what I can do to withstand those trials. It’s about believing God when he says that He will give me what I need, if I’ll only ask without doubting. So instead of being afraid of failing, I should focus on trusting Him and what He can do in me.

2. Don’t just know it. Live it. Yes, James is the book that basically screams, “You can’t just talk the talk…you need to walk the walk, too. And you can’t just walk the walk…you need to talk the talk, too.” Faith and deeds cannot be mutually exclusive. They must exist together.

I grew up going to church and living in a lovely Christian home. And I’m super grateful for that. But it means that yeah, I know the talk. I know what the Gospel is, I know what the Bible says, I know what my beliefs are, and I have faith that what I believe is Truth. But what am I doing about it?

Now this could go in a bunch of different directions as far as works goes, but I’m going to direct it toward my fear of trials here. I can go into trials knowing the right things to “say” and the right things to “believe.” But if I’m not acting out those beliefs in my everyday life, if I’m not living them, if I’m not letting the Holy Spirit speak to me through the Word and move me into applying it through action in my daily life — then simply knowing what I believe and knowing the right things to say may not be enough for me to successfully withstand a trial and come out victorious in Christ.

If I don’t let my beliefs and God’s Word actually affect and drive my actions and how I live my everyday life, then how can I be confident that I’ll know how to act during a trial?

Or in other words, what will my “default” be? When I’m in the midst of a trial and when I feel like I’m being attacked from every side, my actions are critical. And I’m going to default to what I’ve made into my norm. So right now — this good time — is the time to make that norm, that default, into actions that are soaked in the Word of God. Not just nice words that I’ve memorized.

3. Know who you are. Going right along with the last point, we need to know and remember who we are…or rather, who we’re meant to be. Got didn’t create us to go right along with the rest of the world and spiral into darkness and despair when difficult things happen.

We’re meant to stand firm. We’re meant to prevail through the power of Christ. We’re meant to be warriors who live out our faith and let it permeate every area of our lives. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James  1:22-24)

We are children of God. We are meant to do His will. We are meant to live out His Word. Don’t forget what you look like — don’t forget who you are.

4. Always be prepared. The Boy Scouts got it right on this one. Preparation is key. Yes, I’m in a “good time” right now. And that’s when it’s important to take every one of the previous points and practice them day in and day out so that I can prepare myself for any trials that may come my way. I need to keep my nose in God’s Word every single day so that it becomes a part of me. I need to let it soak in real deep so that it will sustain me through the desert heat whenever it comes.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Am I still afraid of trials? Yes. I’m afraid of bad things happening because I’m only human. But am I afraid that I won’t make it through them? Not so much. Because I know my God, and I know that He will sustain me in the worst of droughts.

I won’t wither and die. I will continue to blossom and bear fruit, because the water that I’m drinking every day is from a stream that will never go dry. So long as I keep my roots planted by that water, I won’t thirst. I won’t be overcome by the heat.

I’ll thank God for the good times. But even in the bad — especially in the bad — I’ll still stay by the water. Feel free to join me.