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How to Get Through What You’re Going Through
Nov. 27, 2016
For a variety of reasons, the holidays can be a time of great stress for those of us in recovery. We can become acutely aware of the damage our past has created even though we have remained faithful to our recovery program by working daily to stay surrendered to God’s will. Still, we see others celebrating with family and friends and we feel alone. We wonder what more God wants of us. We wonder how much longer we are expected to wait. When will God answer with His justice in our lives?
James speaks directly to us regarding these issues in Chapter 5 verses 7-8.
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You to, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
My expectations are the problem. Pastor Brian reminded me that I shouldn’t make compromises in my spiritual walk but rather I need to strengthen my faith by letting God be God. His point was that patience and waiting is not a passive activity. Its not “doing nothing.” Waiting and patience is, in fact, doing God’s work and a clear exhibition of our faith in God’s wisdom.
I believe this is much easier said by those not currently in the fires of life so let me give an example of a friend in recovery. With many years of quality recovery behind him and a clear vision of what daily recovery looks like, my friend was the victim of a brutal vehicular accident that completely disabled him for years. His disability was both physical and financial. Insurance lawyers did their job to minimize their support of my friend and force him to settle for less than what was needed and easily justified.
Through the ordeal, my friend remained confident that God had a plan and a path for him and that he simply needed to maintain his faith in that fact, day after day, after day. Having to learn to stand and then learn to walk again could not have been easy. I can’t imagine that doubt and anger were not occasional states of mind. All of us are only human. Still, he patiently persevered buoyed by his faith and ultimately came out the other end of these events. As Pastor Brian so eloquently described this morning, my friend’s work was far from passive. He was very active though all of it and for those of us watching, he bore witness to Christ’s power in sustaining us through times of incredible need. Whether he knew it or not, his patient perseverance was a very clear example and testimony of his Christian faith.
James continued, Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Pastor Brian implored us to never “compromise our beliefs and values.” Instead, continue to “do the next right thing even when it means suffering.” But what, we may ask, does Jesus know of my suffering. He doesn’t know how bad this is! Think again, my friends. Think of Christ’s unjust arrest, persecution, beating, bludgeoning, crucifixion, and physical death. I think He knows a great deal about suffering and waiting. Even though I may be unhappy with aspects of my life and situations that I must deal with, my role is clear and unchanged …
Step 3 – I made a decision to turn my will and life over to the care of God.
Having done that I simply have to seek the “next right thing” regardless of the situation and without expectations of outcome or the time it will take. This is action and it bears witness to others of God at work in my life.