Why should I hold on?

Why should I hold on when everything seems to be going wrong? 

Joseph had a really hard time growing up, didn’t he? He was hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold to strangers, and ended up living in a foreign land as a slave and a prisoner! Then, just when his big break was about to happen, the person who could have put in a good word for him forgot all about him! What would you have done in such a situation?

I remember how, some years ago, I had worked so hard on a project at work, only to be told it was not worth recognizing! How disappointing that was, especially after I had poured my heart, mind and soul into this project! I was discouraged for quite a while, I can tell you, and I thought long and hard about what I was doing at that institution, and why God had forgotten me.

I know you also have a similar story to tell. Sadly, we are in a fallen world where things are bound to go wrong more often than we would like them to, and some of these are things that are important to us like life, health, and relationships. How do we hold on? Why should we keep trusting God?

I just need to add here that this is not an easy article to write because even after following Christ for so many years, I still struggle with trust from time to time. Below I share a few of the reminders that keep me going when things are rough.

God’s promises are true

I often wonder if Joseph knew that God’s promises were true. He had two dreams, both pointing to his leadership in the future, yet his present circumstances indicated otherwise. Did he lose hope? Considering how well he worked in Potiphar’s house and in the prison, I don’t think so. He knew that God was and is faithful.

That was Joseph. How about me?

Honestly, I have moments where I read God’s promises and wonder if they apply to me, or if they are real. Here is one promise that is a challenge for me.

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV)

I used to think that this was one of those ‘microwave’ promises, where as soon as I delighted in the Lord, I would get what I wanted. Shock on me! I learnt that yes, I needed to delight in the Lord, but it was up to Him to decide when my desires would be fulfilled. What a hard lesson!

God’s promises are true, and He is faithful. We however need to wait patiently for Him to work things out for us. It may take a while, but on looking back, we realize that the answer came at the best time!

I discovered the promise below not too long ago, and I quote every chance I get!

Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (ESV)

 Amen!

God is faithful 

Have you ever had a faithful friend, one who is there for you no matter what, or a faithful pet who fiercely defends you when strangers come along? When you think of how faithful they are to you, does that give you a sense of hope, knowing that you are not alone? Now picture this – God’s faithfulness is nothing in comparison to the faithfulness of man. He is more faithful than we could ever imagine, and because He is faithful, our hope is renewed.

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (NIV)

God does not make empty promises. He stands behind every single promise that is in His Word.

Let me list a few of God’s promises that may give us hope today.

Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV)

 

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (NIV)

 

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV)

 

Psalm 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” (NIV)

 

Every time you read one of God’s promises, remember that He has promised to fulfill it. For example, when God says He will never leave or forsake us, He is committing Himself to make sure He is right there when we are going through tough times. When God says He is the stronghold of my life, He is committing Himself to be there for me to hold onto when things are rough.

What an awesome and faithful God we serve, and what a blessing it is to have His promises to encourage us!

God has a plan for me 

There is nothing as hard as waiting so patiently for something you need, as well as trusting God for it (and claiming all the verses), then not getting it. This thing you need fits perfectly into your plans, and not having it is something you do not want to imagine. But God says NO. You go into a fit. You scream, cry, whine, slam doors, etc., but God still says NO. You try to walk away, but God draws you back to hear that NO again.

Does that NO ever turn into a YES?

It depends – is the thing you are asking for part of God’s divine plan?

One thing I often forget is that God is sovereign and His perfect plan will always come to pass.  This is not an easy truth to surrender to, though. I want my way. I want to go in the direction the world is going so I can show them that my faith can compete with theirs. I want to look like I am a Christian who is on top of things and has all her ducks in a row. That is not God’s intention, though. He does things HIS way, according to HIS plan, for HIS glory.

Let’s read that one more time.

God does things HIS way, according to HIS plan, for HIS glory.

Surrendering to this plan is a tall order, especially if it is nowhere close to your plan. One thing we all need to remember, though, is that God’s plans are plans for our good. His plan for our lives is a blueprint created and written down with love. God’s plans for our lives are also specific – His plan for me cannot be photocopied for someone else to use. The Lord has the master plan, and He is the only one who can execute it. How encouraging!

I wish there was a quick 3-step manual on how to hold in during hard times, but there isn’t. We can only get through the valleys if we trust in God, stand on His promises, remember His faithfulness, and surrender to His perfect plan. Yes, there is no shortcut, but in the end, after the period of darkness and sorrow is over, we are able to look back and be thankful to the Lord for holding our hands through it.

Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (ESV)

 

 

 

Thank you, everyone, for reading this article. If you liked it, please share it with someone who needs to read it. Also, I would love to read your thoughts on this article – please share them in the comments section. Thank you so much and have a blessed week ahead!