I’ve noticed something in people: how they react to the trials of this world.
One of my favorite scriptures is John 16:33. It’s a promise from God for us today: “In this world you will have trouble.” That’s a very clear truth. We all have our own problems and things that hit us like a chin shot in boxing. Fortunately, the verse doesn’t end with that promise. It ends with Jesus saying that He has overcome the world. Now that’s a promise I can really get behind.
But back to my observation. I’ve seen people react in two primary ways. . .or perhaps the outcome of how they react. They get bitter or they get better. I’m sure that we could all tell stories of the troubles that we have had. Personally, while I won’t go into detail, we had such a monumental trial that every one of us can almost not think of our timelines in any way but pre-event and post-vent. It has changed us massively. The danger for our entire family is to come out of the situation bitter and jaded, blaming God, mad at people around us, etc. Don’t get me wrong, there is still the opportunity for that to happen and we have to guard against that. My dad even made the comment to me as he observed us in the midst of this situation how amazed he was that we were handling the situation.
I know people have gone through worse situations than I have and people who have come out so damaged and broken, giving into that hurt. That’s when the bitterness takes over. They can’t seem to get past the hurt to the other side and it creates bitterness in them. It may not show in massive ways but it puts their whole world on tilt and starts to affect everything they touch.
Instead, what I am focused on is letting my heart be held by my Maker throughout the situation. Instead of bitterness, I want the tenderness of a protected heart, protected by my Father God. I want to reject the tendency to let the heartache and hurt turn me into a cranky, uncaring person. Throughout this situation to which I am referring, there have been some life-changing moves that we have had to make and some that we chose to make. Asymmetric Faith certainly became very clear during this time. In others that I’ve seen go through significant trials and come out better, there is a certain sweetness in their demeanor towards others, a calmness in the midst of other trials.
It’s not a once-and-for-all decision, unfortunately. It’s a daily choosing the heart of the Father and His love for me to keep that tender heart protected. Sometimes, I miss that and the bitterness can start to creep in. . .or even just dullness towards God. That’s when I need to submit my heart again to God’s love and let Him make it better. I need to stop and remember His love for me, the beauty that He created around me, and let His tender mercies envelop me. That’s the Better we all need.
In choosing the Better, my focus also needs to be for those that have chosen the Bitter. God still loves them and wants the best for them too. As our hearts are tenderized by Him, they should be tender towards those struggling in their pain. That’s part of the demonstration of our Better when we can see the pain and hurt and feel tenderness towards others in pain.
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