I was speaking with a new friend recently, who, like me, is in business. “Has it been easy?” he asked me, after I shared a little of my career journey.
It felt like a loaded question. Was it even supposed to be easy? The obvious answer was that it has not been easy. But has it been good? Yes, because looking back, I know that the Lord has been in it with me.
“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,” is just one of the treasures in God’s word (Rom 8:28) that reminds us of His promises. And as we walk with Him, we experience the truth of those words, too.
Jesus never promised us an easy life. In fact, he knew we would need him!
“In this world you will have trouble.” Jesus’ words don’t sound very comforting at first, until we read what he promised immediately afterwards: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
“No,” I told my friend, “but the Lord has been with us through it all, and that’s been amazing.”
I knew that my friend understood what I meant. Walking with the Lord, we learn to celebrate the tough times because in these seasons, He comes so close, as we draw near to Him (just as He promises in James 4:8). This was my friend’s testimony, too, and many others who I speak with about the challenges they have faced during their careers.
It makes sense, then, that James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) It sounds ridiculous in the face of today’s self-centred, self-help culture that professes that life is only good when things are easy.
In fact, James goes on to explain, “…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:3) OK, so when my faith is stretched today, I will be stronger tomorrow. That’s a picture that will be familiar to anybody who exercises to stay healthy: today’s stretching workout might cause temporary pain, but it leads to strength.
And it gets even better: James goes on to tell us how it ends if we keep trusting the Lord by joyfully facing the trials: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4)
Not. Lacking. Anything.
That’s a promise worth persevering for!
I was in Manchester earlier this month, with Mel, speaking at !Audacious Church’s Kingdom Saturday. What an inspiring time in the Lord’s presence with a room full of Spirit-filled entrepreneurs and visionaries! I shared some of my journey walking with the Lord in my work, and how what seemed like the greatest setbacks were, in fact, the times when the Lord shaped my thinking and showed me His will more clearly.
In one difficult season, when I was seeking the Lord for direction, he simply reminded me not to lose the passion for hearing His voice that I was experiencing at that moment.
Yes, the storms of life – often faced in our work – are so often the times that draw us closer to Him, and when we learn to truly trust Him.
I never wish for a storm. But today, when it looks like there’s a challenge ahead, I am able to face it with anticipation for what the Lord will say and do in that storm. Will he invite me to walk on water with Him to grow my faith further? Or will he be asleep in the boat, testing my faith?
Why does the Lord allow us, His children, to suffer pain, stress, or apparent failure? The truth is that He loves us enough to take us deeper in our knowledge of Him, if we let Him.
No, that so-called “failure” you just faced – it’s not a set-back. It’s a set-up, if you allow Him to lead you there.
Are you in a storm at the moment? Do you see a storm coming? Don’t be anxious, but choose to let this experience with Him take you deeper and become part of your life’s testimony of God’s faithfulness.