Fruit of the Spirit Pt. 2 - Week 6, Day 2

Day 2: When Life Makes No Sense at All

Let me share with you one more way we can show faithfulness. We show faithfulness by trusting God even when life doesn’t make sense. My oldest brother Teddy at age 2, started falling down a lot. I know two-year-olds fall down a lot, but he couldn’t even walk across the room without falling. My parents were very concerned so they took him to the doctor and found out that he had a brain tumor.

For the next three years, my parents went from doctor to doctor to try to find a cure. Eventually, my brother died at the age of 5 during surgery. It was through my brother’s sickness that both of my parents got serious about their relationship with Jesus. None of what they went through made any sense to them but they held on to God no matter what.

Faithfulness is not produced in us when everything is calm and everything is going our way. Faithfulness is produced in the midst of life’s hardships and storms. Faithfulness is produced when life doesn’t make sense.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful when they refused to bow down to an idol made of gold that the king made. By not bowing they knew they would be thrown into a blazing furnace. They looked the king in the eye and said,

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”Daniel 3:16 -18 NLT

As we saw yesterday this is one of the most remarkable statements of faithfulness in all of scripture. Inside these words, it shows how big, powerful, and awesome they believed God to be.

They looked at the king and said, “Our God is able. Our God can handle this.” Do you believe that God can handle what you are going through in your life?

God promises, “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

The true litmus test of faithfulness is will we still be faithful to God when life doesn’t turn out the way we hoped. I think about the apostle Paul who was the greatest missionary to ever live. I think it is safe to say that as Paul looked back on his life, nothing had worked out the way he thought it would. Most of it didn’t make sense. He was imprisoned, beaten, and shipwrecked, but Paul was faithful through every hardship and pain. He trusted God.

Some of the last words that Paul wrote are found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT. He writes,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Paul was faithful no matter what. He refused to give up even though life was knocking him down to his knees. Awards get distributed at the finish line.

What are you ready to give up today? Some of you are ready to give up on school. Some of you are ready to throw in the towel on yourself. Some of you are ready to throw in the towel because the situation you find yourself in is getting hard.

Don’t quit. Trust God and hold on. Our God is faithful. He will never let you go.

Time Out:

Write down a time in your life when something happened to you, and it made no sense at all.

Looking back on that event, can you see how God used what you went through for your good or the good of someone else?

Sometimes we go through a hard time and there is no explanation for the pain that we are facing. These are the moments when our faith in God is tested the most. How can you hold on to God more during those times?

I once heard a wise man say when life knocks you down to your knees that is the best position to pray. Are you ready to give up? Why don’t you spend some time today asking God for His strength and His power to get you through what you are facing. If you are going through a rough time, talk to a trusted adult or your student pastor. They might give you some insight that you might have missed. Hold onto God. I promise He is holding onto you.