“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

My family and I were watching Finding Nemo a few nights ago. It’s a really cute show with some good messages. In one scene, Dori and Marlin are in a whale. While Marlin, the eternal pessimist, kept thinking they were going to get eaten, Dori with her child-like optimism knew things would turn out OK. Marlin asks, “How do you know something bad isn’t going to happen?” To which Dori replies, “I don’t.” And with that, she lets go and falls down the whale’s throat, either to be digested by the whale or to be saved by it. Long story short, the two friends go on further to have a wild adventure and eventually find Marlins‘ son Nemo.

That scene in the movie got me thinking about my own life and how many situations looked like there was no hope. Take for instance my twins having a fatal abnormality in the womb and yet being miraculously healed, defying all the doctors’ professional expectations. Or maybe something more recent, like when my wife Monica became paralyzed. Yet, one day she began to feel an overwhelming power in her legs and before she knew it, she was walking again. It dumbfounded all of the doctors.

Those are just two of many, many times in my own life where I can say that God stepped up in a big way. But even though I’ve been through those times and I’ve read or heard of so many other examples of God’s awesomeness, I still have a hard time trusting Him in the face of overwhelming opposition. When the odds stack up, I get scared, I get frustrated, and I doubt.

Why do I doubt? How many times does God need to prove Himself in my life and in all of recorded history, biblical and otherwise? Can I honestly think that something is too hard for the God who spoke the universe into being or the same God who parted seas and raised people from the dead? No way!

Nothing is impossible for God. No matter what you are facing in your life, it’s not too tough for God. Like the old saying goes, if God brought you to it, He’ll bring you through it. The Bible says that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him. All things means just what it says, ALL THINGS. Not everything is going to go well in our lives. If we’re being honest with ourselves, when times are easy, we often forget to stick so close to Jesus. Oh sure, we say our prayers and we may thank Him once in a while, but if you want to see the definition of fervent prayers, just look at a Christian who is going through some rough and scary times.

The fact is that there are times of ease and times of heartache; nights of darkness and days of light. The Bible tells us that there are seasons for everything, but no matter what, God is there with us through all of it. He promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, and if He is by your side, you won’t need for anything else.

God is our Father, our friend, and our hope. You don’t need to test, you simply need to trust.

God’s blessings to you.

DH