Category: Adversity

Learning to Lament

“Life often hurts, and we need to know how to pray when it does,” Jennifer Rothschild declares in When You Pray. Maybe prayers of lament aren’t a regular part of your times with the Lord; expressing passionate grief or sorrow isn’t something we do well as a culture. Rather than feeling the depth of our emotions, we expend tremendous energy trying to avoid them. 

We’ve learned to sidestep pain in many creative ways. Here are a few strategies that have become common in our culture:

Numbing: Physical pain in our bodies signals to us that something needs attention. However, if we numb the pain of a toothache without addressing the root issue, the problem grows bigger. Yet many of us do this with our emotions—we feel the unpleasant sensation of pain and we rush to numb it with alcohol, pills, binge watching Netflix, shopping, or something else. Anesthetizing may lessen the pain for a while, but it brings only short-term relief.

Busyness & Distraction: Like waving a toy in front of a toddler crying for his mother, we occupy ourselves with distractions that make us forget emotional pain, at least for a little while. Maybe it’s keeping a full social calendar, scrolling social media, flooding our minds with mental inputs like podcasts or audio books, or throwing ourselves into serving others or working. We often use busyness and distractions to avoid feeling our emotions.

Denial & Avoidance: Sometimes we like to pretend the pain isn’t there. We think that if we don’t acknowledge its existence, it can’t take us under. Like getting caught in a forceful ocean current, we try to resist its power and exhaust ourselves fighting against it. But as a wise pastor once told me, grief waits for us for as long as it takes for us to reckon with it.

Pursuing Pleasure: Taking a vacation, looking for laughs, or deciding we “deserve” to eat with abandon can be coping mechanisms we use trying to counterbalance the pain we’re feeling. Wanting to feel good for just a moment, we justify spending money or consuming calories in an effort to soothe the hurt gnawing inside of us. Often, we end up feeling worse than we did before.

Negative Comparisons: I’ll never forget risking to lament about a painful situation I was experiencing. My confidante responded by saying, “Well, at least…” and then proceeded to share something similar she’d gone through that was much worse. Instead of listening with empathy, she minimized my sadness. I felt foolish and guilty for letting my “lesser” problem affect me so deeply. Trying to make ourselves (or others) feel better through negative comparisons just makes the burden heavier.

Positive Spin: Sometimes we take a hard situation and, instead of processing our painful emotions, we try looking at the bright side. I’ve often tried to console myself and others by focusing only on the benefits emotional hardship could bring. But failing to acknowledge the pain is like covering a wound before cleaning it out—it festers and prevents healing.

Spiritual Bypassing: For a lover of Scripture like me, another way I’ve avoided feeling my sadness is by veering around it. Before even allowing my emotions to surface fully, I’m already trying to find ways to explain away the pain or learn spiritual truth from it. It’s short-sighted to think we can “skip over our pain and just have Jesus ‘fix’ us.”1

We can stave off painful emotions, but ultimately if we don’t deal with them, they leak out of us at times we don’t anticipate. Unacknowledged pain morphs into impatience, anger, irritability, apathy, discouragement, and a host of other negative emotions and behaviors that ripple out to affect others around us.

Rather than avoiding our pain, we need to face it head on and let ourselves feel it deeply. Learning to lament in prayer with total honesty brings great relief and freedom. Try using these steppingstones on the path to comfort and healing.2

1. Address God: Focus your prayer on the One who knows you intimately and listens to you attentively. “Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.” (Psalm 5:1-2, NIV)

2. Pour out your heart: Bring Him your complaints and concerns. Share your raw emotions without holding back. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8, NIV)

3. Request help: Ask God for what you need, but also remain open to His perspective on your situation. “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.”(Psalm 109:21, NIV)

4. Express trust. Affirm your faith in God’s character and His Word. (Or ask Him to build your trust in Him if you’re not quite there yet.) “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2, NIV)

5. Praise Him. No matter how terrible you feel, God is still good. Remind yourself of this by expressing adoration for His wisdom, strength, and faithfulness (or whatever qualities of His you appreciate.) Use the Bible to help you if you can’t come up with anything on your own. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails  and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength;  he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV)

Lament gives us time and space to identify our feelings and process them in the safe, loving, patient presence of our Heavenly Father. Laying out our emotions allows the Lord to comfort us and guide us, freeing us to move forward instead of being continually weighed down. It’s hard work, but so worth it. The next time you’re hurting emotionally, consider making time to practice lament and let the Lord refresh your spirit.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

1. John Mark Comer quoting John Welwood, Praciticing the Way, Waterbrook, 2024, 88.

2. Jennifer Rothschild, When You Pray session 5, Lifeway Press 2023, 119.

All Roads Lead to Rome

“All roads lead to Rome” is a saying that refers back to when the Eternal City was the hub of the world’s largest empire. Straight roads with solid foundations fanned out from it in all directions. People traveling through traded not only goods and news but also ideas and beliefs.1 Paul’s longing to reach this vibrant city culminates in the final chapter of Acts after a harrowing sea voyage that includes a violent storm, a shipwreck, and a snake bite. By the time he arrives in Rome under the watchful eye of his centurion guard, Julius, Paul has traveled 2000 miles as a prisoner bent on making his defense before Caesar. Let’s examine a few key moments on this final journey recorded in Acts 27 & 28.

The Storm at Sea: A risky decision by the ship’s pilot to keep sailing deep into the fall months leads to a tumultuous journey from Caesarea to Rome for Paul and his companions. Over a series of days, their “violently storm-tossed” vessel rolls and pitches over angry seas while the ship’s crew fights to keep it afloat. When they’ve taken every safety measure possible and have no sun or stars by which to navigate, our narrator, Luke, explains, “all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.” (Acts 27:20, ESV)

At this point Paul, a mere prisoner and passenger on the battered vessel, speaks up: “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” (Acts 27:21-22, ESV) While this may sound like a spiteful “I told you so,” Paul is actually reminding them that through God’s guidance, he predicted the disastrous voyage (27:10).2 With his credibility established, everyone on board listens this time as he describes a vision he’s had from an angel promising he will make it to Rome and everyone on the ship will survive. Paul finishes by encouraging them: “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (Acts 27:25, ESV)

While it’s unlikely you’ve been in Paul’s exact circumstances, there’s a good chance you’ve weathered a storm in the past or will in the future: a cancer diagnosis or chronic illness, a job loss or financial ruin, a tragic accident or unwelcome surprise, mental illness, anxiety, depression, divorce, loneliness, rejection (you get the idea). When storms blow through your life or the lives of those you love, do you take heart and have faith in God? Do you encourage others with His promises? As followers of Jesus, there is never a reason to sink into utter despair because our hope isn’t in our circumstances, but in Him.

The Shipwreck: After two weeks of taking a thrashing from the violent storm, Paul and his companions break bread together at his urging and give thanks to God. Just as Paul foretold, the ship runs aground on a reef, but all 276 passengers safely make it to land (with the help of the Centurion, Julius, who refuses to allow the Roman soldiers to kill the captives in their care.) Once ashore, Paul miraculously survives a venomous snake bite while building a fire on the beach with his companions. The waterlogged survivors soon learn they’re on the island of Malta, just south of Sicily and less than 700 miles from Rome.

So, in the midst of the two-week storm with no ability to navigate or control the ship’s direction, Paul and the rest of the travelers discover they were being drawn to Rome the whole time. God’s sovereign hand spared their lives and guided them through hurricane force winds and treacherous seas.3 Surely Luke must have been remembering the story he penned in his gospel about Jesus calming a storm. On a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee Jesus’ distressed disciples awaken Him from a nap during a fierce storm. Jesus rebukes the wind and the raging waves; the storm ceases and there is immediate calm. The disciples marvel at this, saying to one another: “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25, ESV)

When you’re in the midst of a storm, do you trust in the sovereignty of God? Do you rely on the Lord’s strength to guide you? Even when you feel out of control and can’t see how the storm is going to end, do you have faith that the Lord is at work?

The Arrival in Rome: Three months after landing in Malta, Paul and his companions begin the final leg of their journey. Luke describes the culmination of their travels with minimal fanfare saying simply, “And so we came to Rome.” (Acts 28:14b, ESV) However, he follows this with a touching interaction between Paul and a group of Roman believers: “And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.” (Acts 28:15, ESV) Followers of Jesus travel between 35 & 43 miles south of Rome to greet Paul despite the fact they’ve never met him. 

Imagine Paul’s utter exhaustion after such an arduous journey. How encouraging it must’ve been to be greeted warmly by a group of believers who valued his teaching and shared his deep love of God. Maybe seeing their joy and devotion to the Lord reminded him all the effort was worth the tremendous challenges he’d faced. Even giants of the faith get depleted and need to be cheered on every so often. Do you know people who serve tirelessly for the sake of the gospel? Consider praying and asking God to show you how you can encourage someone who has spurred on your spiritual growth.

The Wait for a Trial: After arriving in Rome Paul spends two years under house arrest awaiting his trial before Caesar. During that time, he writes letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians as well as a personal letter to Philemon. Whether traveling or staying in one place, free or in chains, Paul preaches and teaches the gospel with passion and conviction to those near and far. The Holy Spirit produces an abundance of fruit through his faithful obedience that we are still benefiting from today. 

Although Acts 28 marks the end of Luke’s chronicles of the Holy Spirit being poured out on followers of Jesus, it closes without a sense of finality. Perhaps that’s because it’s meant to be only the birth story of the Church. Paul, Peter and the other believers were just the beginning. The narrative has continued to be written in all the years since then through the lives of all who have received the power of the Holy Spirit and have sought to be witnesses of Jesus “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV)

  • 1. Jen Wilkin, Week 10 video, Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2, The Village Church.
  • 2. NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan, p. 2018
  • 3. Jen Wilkin, Week 10 video, Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2, The Village Church.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

The Gospel Spreads

Strolling down the beach, I took in the usual sights—waves lapping at the shore, sea gulls soaring, children frolicking in the surf, and people relaxing on the sand. However, there was one unusual feature that caught my eye—a narrow indentation in the cliff wall adorned with stones in small stacks spanning the length of it. I later learned a group of rocks intentionally balanced together like this is known as a cairn. It is a human-made pile (or stack) of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a marker, memorial, or burial monument.1 I like to imagine that one person built a cairn on that stone shelf and that, over time, it inspired others to add their own until they filled the entire span.

I’d love to know the stories of those cairns on the beach that mark tributes to people’s private memories. As I envision them, the stacks make me think of Stephen, the first martyr who was stoned to death (Acts 7).  Like the cairns, Stephen’s tragic death became a beautiful marker of the spread of the gospel. What the enemy meant for evil God used for good. Persecuted believers fled Jerusalem but continued to follow Stephen’s example by sharing the gospel boldly wherever they went. Since the beginning of the church, Christians have gathered to grow and scattered to share. 

After recounting Stephen’s horrific death, Acts 8 continues with the story of Philip as he travels beyond the walls of Jerusalem. Luke describes Philip and his fellow deacons as “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” (Acts 6:3, ESV) Earlier in Acts we learned that Philip and six other Greek, Jewish believers had been commissioned to serve neglected widows so the apostles could continue devoting themselves to prayer and preaching the gospel (Acts 6).

However, fulfilling the call to serve the needy jolts to a stop when Philip and the rest of the believers flee Jerusalem. Perhaps he felt a bit unsure of himself at first out on the road. He had a clear calling in Jerusalem—the apostles had even laid hands on him to commission him as a deacon. Maybe Philip fretted about the widows he’d served and wondered what would become of them. Perhaps he lamented that he could no longer use his gift of hospitality once the flock of believers had scattered. While he may have felt confused and sad, it’s clear from reading further that Philip recognized that serving tables was only one of the ways the Lord would use him.

Traveling through Samaria, Philip begins preaching the gospel to those who the Jews considered outcasts, half-breeds, and idol worshipers. The former table server begins casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Philip’s ministry has such impact that news of the incredible wonders the Spirit performs through him reaches the apostles in Jerusalem. Peter and John come to see the spiritual awakening in Samaria and pray for the people formerly detested by the Jews to receive the Holy Spirit. This moment highlights a key theme from Scripture: those we exclude, God includes because the gospel is for everyone.2

Meanwhile, Philip, the former deacon, shows that he’s game for anything the Spirit wants to do through him. After performing signs and wonders in Samaria, an angel appears and instructs him, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26, ESV) On the road, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the prophet Isaiah as he travels in his chariot. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:29b, ESV) The eunuch invites Philip to ride along with him and a divinely appointed conversation ensues: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35, ESV) 

Philip’s explanation of the gospel prompts an immediate response and the Ethiopian stops the chariot to be baptized at the last watering place before the desert road through Egypt.2 Just after this joyful encounter, “the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39B, ESV) That one conversation enabled the joy-filled Ethiopian to bring the gospel back to his people. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Ethiopia later became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 333 A.D.

Philip next appears later in Acts 21:8, where he’s labelled “Philip the evangelist.” His example inspires me. He lived out his calling to be a witness for Jesus in whatever he did—whether serving tables, casting out demons, healing the sick, or preaching the gospel. Philip shows “God’s plan is to make his invisible presence and his invisible grace visible through his people, who incarnate his presence and carry that grace to others…The body of Christ is designed by God to be an organic, consistently ministering community.”3

Philip’s example also convicts me. He demonstrates willingness for the Lord to use him in whatever ways are best. Rather than pigeon-holing himself to serve in only one way, he’s adaptable and continually open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Are we willing to let the Lord expand our comfort zones to use us in different ways like Philip?

This reminds me of a friend from a Bible study who moved away a few years ago. She sent a text message to our group recently that read: “Miss you ladies—Prayers for my new Bible group this evening. Nine ladies God brought to my home to dive in to the study that changed my life.” What a joy to watch the Lord transform a spiritually hungry participant into a leader filled with the Spirit and equipped to share the good news of Jesus with others. She’s stacking memory stones from her time with our group, sharing what she learned with others through the power of the Holy Spirit. Trusting God, she’s stepping out in faith to lead and not letting fear hold her back from the new ways God wants to use her.

The Lord equips us with gifts to use at different times and in different seasons. Like Philip and my friend, we must continually seek the leading of the Spirit as He equips us and opens new opportunities to use us to spread the gospel and see lives transformed.

Was this forwarded to you? Visit my website, submit your e-mail address, and click “subscribe” to receive posts directly in your inbox. www.marybethmccullum.com

  • 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairn
  • 2. Village Church teaching video “Week 7, Simon & Philip”
  • 3. Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies, Crossway, 2014, Oct. 11 entry.

The First Martyr

Studying the first six chapters of Acts, we’ve seen the highs and lows of the early church: Unschooled men preach with boldness and wisdom; people experience miraculous healing; thousands hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. Simultaneously, followers of Jesus are ridiculed, imprisoned, and beaten. But in Acts 7, we encounter the first person who dies for the sake of Jesus.

Scripture describes Stephen as a deacon “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” and “full of grace and power” whose adversaries “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (6:5, 8, 10, ESV) Even the Jewish council that opposed him “saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”(6:15, ESV) After Stephen preaches the gospel with passion and conviction, enraged Jewish leaders drag him out of the city and stone him to death. 

Stephen heeds Jesus’ call to be a witness (Acts 1:8) and pays for it with his life. Did you know the Greek word “martyras” translates as both “witness” and “martyr”? In the early church, the two were synonymous: those who told others about what they experienced with Jesus knew their lives were at risk. 

After the angry crowd stones Stephen to death, a time of intense persecution begins for the new believers: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:1,2,4, NIV)

Although persecution and hardship scattered the early church, the disciples’ passion for Jesus and the good news of the gospel couldn’t be squelched. This seems to go against conventional wisdom, but we can’t overlook the significance of their access to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Their courage and passion came from Him and made the spread of the gospel unstoppable.

While followers of Jesus today in the West don’t face martyrdom, we are confronted regularly with the option to follow the teachings of Jesus or the ideologies of our time. In other words, we daily choose between Jesus and the world. In most cases these two ways of thinking and living are inconsistent with one another.

Telling a non-believer you follow Jesus doesn’t always get a warm, fuzzy response. So, how do we preach the gospel when so many people today see it as bad news? Peter, who was no stranger to opposition, offers timeless wisdom to believers: “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:11-12, NIV)

First, he reminds us our primary citizenship is in the kingdom of God. We base 0ur identity foremost on belonging to the family of God, not on our nationality, occupation, or even our family of origin. Next, Peter acknowledges our common struggle with sin and urges us to live with greater purpose than gratifying our flesh. He explains how our actions communicate the gospel before words ever come out of our mouths. As we turn from the fleeting pleasures of sin, we display the fruit of the Spirit produced by intimacy with God.

Peter explains that the way we live paints a picture of the Lord’s light and grace for our world that is shrouded in the ugly darkness of sin. He directs us to live such good lives among nonbelievers that they can see the beauty of walking with Jesus. In this way, we serve as witnesses not just by what we say, but also by what we do, how we serve others, and the ways we “quietly defy the brokenness of our age.”1

Peter echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:14-16, ESV)

Pastor John Mark Comer urges believers to live in a way that begs people to question why we’re different. He explains that in the days of the early church, people were drawn to believers whose lives had been formed by following the way of Jesus. Pagans saw joy, generosity, service, peace, and wisdom and wanted to know why believers were so different. Followers of Jesus were living in a way that drew people to the goodness and beauty of their lives, not to moral perfection.

As witnesses of the gospel, we’re not merchants selling people on the good news of Jesus. We’re not politicians seizing power and forcing others into our way of life. We’re not judges condemning sinners to hell or saviors rescuing people from it. We’re just sharing the impact of Jesus on our lives in both word and in deed. Some people will be drawn to our witness; others will be repelled by it. We’re not responsible for outcomes, just for living differently because of the gospel.

As with the early church, we’re called to repent, believe, and reorder our lives around the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether people join us with joy or reject us with cynicism, we remain securely planted in the family of God. This life is fleeting; eternity is what matters. May the Lord grant us the courage and strength to stay true to Jesus and to bear witness in word and deed, in private and public. Our call is to follow Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. Whatever comes, nothing compares to the joy of knowing Christ. 

1. John Mark Comer, “Live in a Way that Begs the Question,” Bridgetown Church, March 24, 2023. Please note that the second half of this post starting with the commentary on 1 Peter 2 includes ideas from this sermon.

Was this forwarded to you? Receive posts directly in your inbox by subscribing on my website. 

www.marybethmccullum.com: Against the Current

Against the Current

Part 1: Obeying God Rather Than Men

Gentle waves lapped at my ankles as I waded into the water clutching my boogie board. My two older brothers stood nearby cautioning me to let them test the conditions first. As a stubborn middle schooler, I was convinced this was a ploy to ditch me. They relented to prove me wrong and, with reluctance, beckoned me to join them. Within minutes we were caught in a powerful rip current, unable to paddle further out to the waves or to get back to the beach. Our only option was to swim toward a lava bed nearby. Within arms’ reach of our destination, a set of waves rolled in and heaved us onto the jagged shore. Gasping for air, I had no strength to fight the receding water pulling me back out. Had my brother not reached down and caught my wrist, I’m not sure I would have made it to safety. 

You probably know how difficult it is to swim counter to a strong current. Whether it’s literal or metaphorical, you understand how moving in opposition to an extreme force saps your strength and leaves you feeling helpless.

Maybe that’s why Peter and the other apostles inspire me so much in the book of Acts. Time and time again, they choose to paddle against the current of their culture for the sake of the gospel. One of the best examples is their reply to the Jewish elders who order them to cease preaching about Jesus. With boldness, they respond: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29b, ESV) Their confident and unwavering stance sets the tone for all followers of Jesus to remain steadfast in obedience to God despite persecution, ridicule, and rejection.

So how do we know when God is calling us to swim against the current? This can be a bit confusing since in most cases, Scripture calls followers of Jesus to obey human authorities (Romans 13:1–2; 1 Peter 2:13–14; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 13:17). We’re also urged to pray for those in power (1 Timothy 2:1–2; Romans 13:6–7). However, there are situations when human law or current culture contradicts God’s clear commands in the Bible. In those instances, we need to align with the Lord, even when following people or laws with lower standards would be easier.

Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” Rather than defaulting to the path of least resistance in our culture, followers of Jesus need to seek understanding in challenging and confusing issues. John, who paddled against the current throughout Acts later wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17, ESV)

Like Peter and the other apostles in Acts 5, we need to know and apply God’s Word when the world pressures us to affirm what the Bible condemns. It’s vital that we learn about thorny issues that make us uncomfortable by exploring the Bible, praying, and seeking wisdom from the Spirit—especially when the godly response isn’t clear cut. Peter explains this when he writes: “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:15-17, ESV italics added for emphasis) 

Swimming against the current requires strength, wisdom and trustworthy companions. Consider where you may be prone to letting the current of our culture determine your views and responses. Ask the Lord to show you anywhere that you’re compromising with the world. Invite Him to give you greater understanding so you can align with His will. Then pray for the courage to take action on what He shows you. 

Part 2: Applying Truth Wisely

One word of caution: swimming against the current of the mainstream doesn’t automatically mean we’re aligned with Scripture. There are several mindsets that can lead us into faulty thinking–damaging our credibility as witnesses and hurting others. Here are several perspectives we’d be wise to avoid:

Falling into legalism. Webster’s Dictionary defines legalism as “strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code.” Relying primarily on opinions of one specific person, taking random Bible verses out of context, or automatically applying one principle to multiple situations veers us towards legalism. Legalism is a shortcut that limits deep thinking, overlooks prayer, fosters self-righteousness, and squelches spiritual discernment. These practices tend to make us harsh, judgmental, and insensitive. They lead us to focus on condemning others instead of discerning godly responses to them. We can avoid being legalistic by maintaining a teachable spirit, seeking wisdom in prayer, and examining Scripture thoroughly. Legalism often eliminates love and excuses bad behavior. Peter counters this saying: “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:7-8, ESV)

Following false teachers. Believers must be knowledgeable about Scripture so they can recognize faulty teaching. There are many leaders and influencers who swim against the current in unbiblical ways. They mix a little bit of Scripture with a lot of worldly wisdom. False teachers use Christian language we recognize in ways that it was never intended. Often, they are funny, relatable, winsome, and compassionate. If you hear a wildly different interpretation of Scripture that seems to affirm ideas contrary to anything else you’ve learned, it’s time to do some research. Peter writes an entire chapter about this: “there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” (2 Peter 2:1b-2, NIV)

Forgetting the real enemy. Swimming against the current sometimes fosters an “us versus them” mentality. It’s easy to slip into this mindset when we encounter people who think and act differently from us. Rather than drawing lines and becoming offended or condemning, we need to remember that people aren’t the true enemy, Satan is: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV) The apostle Paul gives clear wisdom for how to respond to those who differ from us: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”  (Romans 12:14-18, ESV)

Our culture today stands divided on many issues that are destroying families, ending friendships, and causing deep hurt. As followers of Jesus, our obedience to God matters more than anything else—but that shouldn’t be an excuse for poor behavior. We’ve received the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus’ work in our lives. We’re called to a higher standard, so let’s swim against the current while avoiding these common pitfalls. Instead, let’s strive to reveal God’s love to a world that desperately needs hope that only the gospel can give.

Was this forwarded to you? Receive posts directly in your inbox by subscribing on my website. 

www.marybethmccullum.com: Against the Current

Heaven’s View of Christmas

Each December we read the beloved story of Christmas from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. We remember Mary and Joseph, shepherds and angels, wise men and the star, and, of course, baby Jesus. We find comfort and hope in the familiar plot, people, and places. But this year, I heard a sermon with a new perspective on the Christmas story that’s straight from Scripture, but often overlooked. It’s a narrative that steps back to give us a broader view of Christ’s birth from the perspective of heaven.

The apostle John, known as “the disciple Jesus loved” wrote the book of Revelation while in exile at the end of his life. He wrote about visions and prophecies revealed to him by God to give hope and encouragement to persecuted believers around the world. In his vision from chapter 12, John describes the birth of Christ. One aspect of this incredible event we rarely consider is the cosmic conflict that it caused:

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne… Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:1-9, NIV)

Pastor Rick Atchley contends that the woman in John’s vision represents both Israel and Jesus’ mother, Mary, who birthed the Messiah as the Savior for all of humankind. He believes that the Revelation passage describes Christ’s birth and the devil’s attempt to intervene and prevent Him from fulfilling the purposes for which He was born. War breaks out between God and Satan and the enemy ultimately is cast out of heaven and hurled to earth with his minions. 

Christ’s birth from heaven’s perspective shows us that there is a huge story playing out. There is a dark lord fighting against a promised King. But the outcome of their conflict has already been determined:

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short’…  Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” (Revelation 12:10-12, 17, NIV)

Bible scholars have differing opinions on the time frames and specifics for the events described in the passage above. Regardless, the vision helps us to understand why bad things happen to us even though Jesus was victorious. It’s because we still contend with an unseen reality: the devil who roams the earth. He is the one behind all the hurt, pain, and evil in this world. The dragon knows Jesus was born to rule the earth and he knows God’s kingdom is invincible, but he will continue to wage war and spread misery on the earth until Jesus returns.

Right now, there’s an ongoing battle all around us in the spiritual realm: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV) All people on earth in every generation get to decide which side of the battle they want to be on, but only one of the opponents will stand the test of time: “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever!” (Revelation 1:5 & 6, NIV)

Celebrating Christmas reminds us the enemy’s reign has an expiration date. Regardless of which interpretation of Revelation we align with, we can be encouraged by taking a bigger view of Jesus when we face earthly problems and struggles. We can remind ourselves that the King of Kings who conquered death will one day rule all nations and make all things right. We can rejoice that our true hope isn’t in human empires or worldly comforts but in the absolute sovereignty of Christ. 

Before Pastor Atchley’s sermon begins, a short video depicts a classic nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. As the narrator speaks, the camera pulls back to reveal angels singing above the manger and then further still to reveal stars, constellations, a throne and a dragon. The narrator describes each scene saying: “There’s the story we know: The King of Kings born in a lowly manger. But the story we know is part of a bigger story. A story that unfolds not just in a stable, but on the stage of history played out among the stars and the heavenly hosts. It’s a story of cosmic conflict; of good and evil locked in battle; of a victorious king enthroned forever. The story we know reaches far beyond the little town of Bethlehem into every corner of the cosmos.”1

May this Christmas leave you in awe that the King of Kings who existed before time began came to earth to rescue and redeem us and give us everlasting hope. Let “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship give you a moment to stop and praise God for this incredible truth. Click here to listen.

1. “A Cosmic King” Series: Cosmic Christmas, Rick Atchely, The Hills Church. Click here to watch the full sermon. 

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

Carrying the Wilderness with You

Hiking was one of the main activities my family enjoyed when I was growing up. Sometimes my dad liked forging his own trails and taking us “overland.” He led the way with confidence, but the paths he chose rarely ended where we expected. I remember one afternoon when we trampled through knee-high, brittle grass trying to find our way back to the car. The sun dipped behind the hills as we trudged along, shivering in the waning light. As we reached the gravel parking lot complaining of aching feet and rumbling bellies, the first stars twinkled in the night sky. That’s probably the closest I’ve come to wandering in the wilderness in a literal sense.

Bible teacher Kristi McClelland explains: “We often think of a desert or wilderness as something we want to get out of. But the Jewish people view the desert as the place where the Lord often meets His people and speaks to them.”1 The Israelites experience this after leaving Egypt under Moses’ leadership. In the desert God shows them His character and demonstrates His care for them. The events they witness reveal the Lord’s power, presence, protection, and provision. A glance at the first four chapters of Exodus provides ample evidence:

-The Lord fights for them: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

-The Lord surrounds and protects them: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them.” (Exodus 14:19)

-The Lord makes a way for them: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)

-The Lord provides food for them: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16:11-12)

-The Lord provides water for them: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:6)

-The Lord protects them from enemies: “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, ‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 17:15-16)

The Israelites’ time in the wilderness gives them tangible, personal, and specific evidence of the Lord’s hand at work in their lives. No wonder Kristi McClelland says the Middle Eastern perspective asks: “How do I carry the wilderness with me?” and “How do I remember the word the Lord taught me in the wilderness?”2

Although I’ve had limited experience wandering in the actual wilderness, there have been many times when I’ve metaphorically found myself in the desert—times when I’ve felt lost, discouraged, and unsure how to proceed. Although they were difficult seasons, I look back on them with gratefulness because of how I encountered the Lord. That’s why Kristi McClelland’s words resonate with me: “In the desert—the wilderness—God meets you and teaches you unique lessons that these dry and barren places frame in a way no other place would. In the Middle Eastern culture, the wilderness is seen almost as a sacred place, a place of intimacy where God speaks a ‘word’ to you.”3  

In the desert of my freshman year of college, the Lord met me in my loneliness and taught me to pour out my heart to Him and He became my closest confidante. During the wilderness of discouragement and depression in young motherhood, God beckoned me to seek Him for comfort and He became my shelter in storms. More recently, I wandered in the desert after an intense season in my life came to a close. Leading up to it, I’d been stretched to the limit for over two years managing care for my mom as her health declined. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, four months of daily visits and constant monitoring of her medical needs consumed me. After my mom passed away, my sister and I spent six months sorting the contents of our family home and preparing to put it on the market. 

Although I’d been grieving all along, the magnitude of what I’d experienced fully caught up with me only after my mom’s house sold. Instead of being relieved, I felt untethered, adrift and unsure how to move forward. As I turned to the Lord for wisdom, He coaxed me to rest and grieve. He helped me to see that my constant productivity had shielded me from fully experiencing my grief. He impressed upon me the wisdom of Psalm 46:10: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NASB 1995) My time in the wilderness provided much-needed margin to process, pray, and find comfort in the Lord’s presence. Eventually it also allowed me space to hear from Him and discern what He was calling me to next.

Desert seasons feel disorienting and uncomfortable; we’re not sure which path to take or what our destination will be. We may not enjoy them, but they are incredible opportunities to grow in trusting the Lord. So, instead of asking “Why?” or “How long?” we’d be wise to invite God to teach us and reveal Himself to us. Seeking the Lord in the wilderness instead of rushing through it enables us to grow deeper in faith and equips us with tools we can use and share with others. I’ve seen the God’s power and felt His strength during wilderness seasons in ways I never would have experienced in times of ease and comfort. 

“The Lord drew Israel into the desert and spoke to her there. The place that seemed to only represent barrenness became one of restoration and redemption, of covenant pledge, of love everlasting…The Lord often speaks to His people in a special way in wilderness seasons.”4  Will you let Him do the same for you? 

Click here and be encouraged by Jeremy Camp’s song “Wilderness”

Do you know someone in a wilderness season who would be encouraged by this post? Consider forwarding it to them today.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

  • 1. Kristi McClelland, Jesus & Women: In the First Century and Now, Lifeway Press, 2019, 22.
  • 2. ibid, p. 23
  • 3. ibid, p. 22
  • 4. ibid, p. 26

Testing or Trusting

City lights twinkled in the rearview mirror as we crossed the Bay Bridge in stunned silence. Sitting in the backseat, I hadn’t begun to process the events of the past few days as my brother drove my mom and me home from the hospital. We’d left our active and strong father lying unconscious in a hospital bed looking frail and vulnerable. The grey tinge to his skin was unsettling, but the most alarming sight during our brief visit to the ICU was the ten inches of sutures running like a zipper down his chest. I’d been shocked when my mom called from the emergency room a few days earlier with news of his heart attack . There had been no indication he had cardiac issues, but now he was fresh out of triple bypass surgery.

Staring out the window as rain pelted the car, I sat thinking of my parents and the busy lives they led. They’d embraced being empty nesters and loved serving at church, going on mission trips, traveling, and spending time with their kids. They were best friends who did everything together. I couldn’t imagine what my mom would do if my dad didn’t survive. Leaning forward from the backseat, I broke the silence as we entered the Caldecott Tunnel “Mom, how are you doing? Dad didn’t look so good, did he?” 

I feared she was on the brink of falling apart and was surprised and relieved by her answer: “No, he looked terrible, but I’m doing alright. I haven’t been studying the Bible all these years for nothing. I know God is good. No matter what happens to Dad, He’ll be faithful.” 

My mom’s trust in the Lord’s goodness gives a stark contrast to the story of the Israelites’ testing Him at Meribah in Exodus 17. Scripture portrays the people quarreling with Moses and almost stoning him over a lack of water on their journey in the desert. Other books of the Bible fill in more details about why their attitude was so displeasing to the Lord. Several chapters in Psalms use the story as a warning for future generations:

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.” (Psalm 95:8-9, NIV)

“He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test…for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance…their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.” (Psalm 78:15-17, 22, 37, NIV)

The Israelites test God at Meribah by asking “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7b) Despite experiencing His power, provision, and presence during their deliverance from Egypt and their journey into the desert, they fail to trust Him. These psalms highlight their hard hearts and their poor memory for God’s goodness. They also point out the Isrealites’ disloyalty to the Lord and their lack of faithfulness to His covenant promises. “Doubting God’s ability, they put Him to the test expecting Him to do miracles for them when they were out of His will.”1

In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews uses the story of Meribah as a reminder for us not to harden our hearts but to remain confident and hopeful in Christ: “`Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.’” (Hebrews 3:5-9, NIV)

Although it’s unlikely we’ll ever be traveling on foot through a desert, all of us will experience painful, difficult, or challenging circumstances in different seasons. And when they occur, we can choose to test God or to trust Him. Seeking the Lord and studying His Word consistently will lay a foundation so that:

  • Instead of questioning if God is still good, we can choose to remember where He’s shown goodness and faithfulness to us in the past.
  • Instead of railing against the Lord in anger, we can choose to trust the promises in His Word. 
  • Instead of feeling offended thinking God “owes” us for the good things we’ve done, we can remember we deserve nothing and trust His grace to be sufficient in our struggles. 
  • Instead of asking “why?” we can invite the Lord to show us what He’s going to do in our lives through the hardship.
  • Instead of hardening our hearts, we can lean into God to keep our hearts tender.

My parents showed many of these responses through my dad’s rocky recovery from open heart surgery. They continued to demonstrate trust in the Lord several years later when a rare disease slowly took his life.

Scripture provides wisdom for how to avoid testing God: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14, NIV) 

Rather than testing the Lord by questioning His goodness or faithfulness in hard seasons, approach Him with your honest emotions and trust Him to be your refuge: “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:6-8, NIV)

Exploring Scripture for this post led me to an incredible verse where God implores His people to listen to Him and follow His ways. He concludes with a promise reminiscent of the manna that was sweet like honey and the rock that poured forth water: “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Click here and enjoy listening to this celebration of God’s perfect provision in “Honey in the Rock” by Brooke Ligertwood.

1. Walvoord and Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, Zondervan 1985, 851.

Inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

The Scenic Route

I didn’t see it coming. With one swift move on the game board, my son thwarted my carefully constructed plans. We’d been playing the game Ticket to Ride and I had been quietly building my railway empire laying my black trains on tracks spanning from east to west. With each turn, I’d been amassing the cards I needed to connect cities between New York and Seattle. The route was obvious and the rail lines I needed had remained unclaimed for many rounds of play. However, in one move, my son’s blue game pieces blocked my westward path in Helena, Montana.  

Despite my disappointment, I studied the game board carefully and discovered an alternate course I hadn’t considered. It was less direct and forced me to veer south to Salt Lake City but would still enable me to link New York and Seattle on my fictional railway line. After a few more rounds of play, I successfully reached my destination, although the route was more circuitous than I’d planned.

Like my train tracks on the game board, there are times when we are so singularly focused on getting from Point A to Point B that we can’t imagine any other way for plans to unfold. Yet when we’re willing to accept unexpected changes and interruptions, we leave room for God to teach us, reveal Himself to us, and protect us. The Bible includes many stories of people who experience God’s divine re-routing. One example of this occurs when the Israelites leave Egypt after the tenth plague: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.”  (Exodus 13:17-18, NIV)

Following the Lord’s “scenic route” protects the Israelites from war while fleeing Egypt after the first Passover. With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit behind them, the Israelites reach a seeming dead end. However, this obstacle allows them to experience one of the most miraculous events in Scripture: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22, NIV) After passing safely through the waters, they witness the Lord’s power again as the sea closes behind them, engulfing Egyptian chariots and horsemen: “And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”(Exodus 14:31, NIV)

If their trip had simply gone from Egypt to the Promised Land without incident, the Jews would have missed seeing these incredible wonders. The parting of the Red Sea illustrates such a powerful example of God’s miraculous provision and protection that it’s mentioned in the biblical books of Joshua, Psalms, Isaiah and First Corinthians. This singular event has encouraged and strengthened believers for thousands of years.

Once the Israelites pass safely through the waters, they join Moses in exalting the Lord: “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Ex 15:11, NIV) As they praise God, their hope in the future and their trust in Him also increase: “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15:13, NIV) Because the Israelites witness God’s mighty hand, they gain a deeper understanding of His character and approach Him with renewed awe.

I wonder what we miss when we lament the “scenic route” instead of looking for where the Lord is at work. When life doesn’t go according to our plans and we feel indignant, disillusioned, angry, or bitter, we close ourselves off to seeing God’s power at work. What if we learned to loosen our grasp on the need for control and to trust God when our plans got rerouted? What if we saw alternate paths as opportunities to see the Lord’s hand move? What if, instead of bemoaning the “scenic route,” we prayed with hopeful expectation while trusting God’s leading?

I’m a born planner and feel great satisfaction when events unfold predictably, but I’m learning to embrace unexpected course changes. Detours in my life have caused frustration, inconvenience, and heartbreak for me many times. However, I can see also the Lord’s hand in them. I feel grateful for the ways they’ve deepened my faith, grown my wisdom, and increased my understanding of God’s goodness.

With the wrong perspective, traveling on the “scenic route” has the potential to cause major discouragement. But if we choose to trust the Lord, it can also provide incredible opportunities to witness His power and to grow in faith. 

What’s your response when the Lord leads you on the “scenic route”? Will you relinquish your need for control and let Him reveal Himself and His glory to you? 

Click here and enjoy a contemporary version the Israelites’ song of praise “Who is Like God.” Although there are no lyrics included, you can open your Bible and read along from Exodus 15:11 & 13. 

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

Becoming Spiritually Durable

Moses’ conversations with the Lord may have happened thousands of years ago, but there’s something so relatable about them. Consider, for example, how he complains to God after Pharaoh increases the Israelites’ workload: “Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.’” (Exodus 5:22-23, NIV)

Maybe you’ve felt like Moses at some point– you stepped out in faith and took a risk to obey the Lord. Despite your best efforts, things didn’t turn out as you hoped or expected. If we’re pursuing God’s will, should we anticipate encountering difficulty? Is it reasonable to expect the path of God’s will to be free of roadblocks or conflict? While we tend to label challenges and setbacks as “bad” because they’re painful, uncomfortable, or frustrating, I don’t think God sees them through the same negative lens. From His vantage point, they’re just tools that are part of the process helping us to grow, mature, and understand our need for Him. 

Think of this concept in terms of physical fitness. If you want to have a healthy cardiovascular system, strong muscles, and durable bones, then challenges need to be a regular part of your exercise routine. Instructors for my spin classes are constantly pushing me to increase resistance to make it harder to pedal. It’s grueling, but if a workout is too easy, it’s not building endurance or strength. Making our bodies work hard may not feel good in the moment, but it produces durability that will benefit us in the long run. 

This same principle applies in our spiritual lives. We don’t grow through easy, comfortable, or predictable circumstances. Progressing in spiritual maturity comes from trusting God through conflicts, roadblocks, and setbacks. Let’s take a look at some passages of Scripture and see what we can learn.

1. Difficulties help us build perseverance and character. Trials remind us that our hope isn’t in earthly circumstances going the way we want, but in knowing that God deeply loves us. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV)

2. Hardships lead us to experience joy knowing we’re persevering and maturing in our faith. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

3. Trials refine our faith and show that it’s authentic. God receives glory when we endure hardships without losing hope in Him. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)

4. Setbacks keep us spiritually sharp. When the enemy tries to thwart God’s plans, we can fight back using the spiritual authority we have through Christ. As we stand firm in the faith, we experience God’s power at work in and through us. Trusting the Lord through hardships also gives us empathy and unity with other believers experiencing similar difficulties. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV)

5. Challenges help us clarify our purpose and identify areas we need to surrender to the Lord. Sometimes they humble us and reveal sin we’ve been ignoring. Once we confess and repent, we’re freed to move forward and focus more completely on God and His plans for us. We’re also able to identify with Jesus, who experienced and overcame opposition. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

When you experience setbacks or conflicts as you’re pursuing God’s will, don’t fall into the trap the Israelites did. Although Moses provides reassurance that the Lord will redeem them and bring them to the land He promised their forefathers, they refuse to receive his encouragement: “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.” (Exodus 6:9, NIV) Sometimes we can be so mired in difficult circumstances that we reject truth offered to us by others. In seasons of challenge and hardship beware of becoming bitter or incapable of receiving encouragement. Don’t let setbacks harden your heart, causing hopeful and positive words to bounce off you.

Rather than seeing difficulties as roadblocks to accomplishing God’s plans, we can see them as necessary parts of the maturing process. Jesus reminds the disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) When we expect troubles to be part of life, we’re less likely to let them surprise or discourage us. Instead, we equip ourselves with encouragement from God’s Word. Then we’re more prepared to press on and trust Him to use hardships for our good and His glory.

If you’re in a season of challenge or discouragement right now, let Mac Powell’s song “New Creation” lift your spirits today. Click here to listen.

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.