Surprise! It's Not All About Me!

As Christians, God tells us we will experience hard times. At some point in your life, things will not go your way. 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT says “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” What I’ve been chewing on lately about my trials and tribulations, is that they’re not always about me. I would dare to say that we’d be surprised by the percentage of our struggles that have more to do with others than ourselves.

Let me clarify. God may have us go through suffering just to be able to reach others. It’s so easy to become me centered in this world, but God is in the people business. Jesus came to earth and had a 3 year ministry. He revealed Himself as the true Messiah, but His suffering on His way to the cross, and death, was for our benefit and not His. He died for the sole purpose of reconciling us to God. He did not need to do that for Himself because He and the Father were already one. (John 10:30) He did not need to be beaten and broken, but He did because by His stripes we are healed. (Is 53:5, 1 Pet 2:24)

When we go through struggles we don’t always know why and for how long they will last. I believe God does this in His infinite wisdom. If we knew all of those details I don’t believe we would chose to endure and would be running for the exit instead. Maybe I’d be okay with a month, maybe 6 months, but years? I gotta draw the line somewhere! Yet, the bible is full of men and women that endured years of trials and testings. They gained a reward, but wrapped up in their story was a bigger long view picture. Abraham and Sarah waited decades for a son from when the word was first given. I’m sure they had immense joy to finally hold that baby, but the two of them were not the end goal. From their line would come an entire nation and eventually Jesus Himself. God may not tell us the end time on our trial, but the goal is always to give Him glory. The testimony that comes from our trial is to draw others to Him either to be saved, comforted, and/or get back on track with the Lord.

My husband and I got married in October 2007. We dreamed and talked about our future together. We talked about how many kids we wanted and names for them. We decided on having the same amount of kids that was in my wedding ring, 5! Now fast forwarding, we didn’t have our first child till 2016. Looking back it seemed like my dream would never happen. I remember praying to God around 2013 feeling like I should give up hope, but not wanting to give up hope. Then I clearly heard Him say to start believing for our baby and to buy things in faith. Little things like an outfit here or toy there I purchased and hid it away in my closet. Every time I came home with something I was saying God I believe we’re going to have a baby even though my circumstances say otherwise. God I believe your word. I did that for 2 years before I got pregnant. Now that we have that child Daisy, I can’t imagine my life without her. It was painful to go all those years without a child when I wanted one. It was painful to visit friends and see their little ones running around. It was a fight to not be jealous or envious even though my friends weren’t intentionally trying to make me sad. Looking back now though I can see the bigger picture. My journey has made me more sensitive to those longing for a child. The reason for my wait may be different from theirs, but through my pain I can identify with their pain. I can reach them and bring a comfort that someone who hasn’t struggled in this area maybe couldn’t. This doesn’t make me mad at God, it makes me see how much He loves each and everyone of us. It makes me see how God is truly a Father and that He does leave the 99 to save the 1. (Luke 15) I know that at some point in my life I was the 1 sheep He left to go after and I’m so glad he did.

Now as I endure my current trial, I’ve been trying to be more conscience that my testimony from this may bring someone to Christ. When I focus more on that it gets my mind off of how difficult this is for me and that life isn’t all about me. It actually is very humbling. God is truly in the people business and He may let us go through things for the sole purpose of reaching someone who would have otherwise been unreachable. My temporary discomfort can have an eternal impact. When I place my focus on that, anything I’m going through doesn’t seem as large as it did before.