Let me ask you this: Have you ever gotten to a point where you just looked up and said “Where are you God?”
Maybe it was during that diagnosis? What about during that heart wrenching situation or a really tough season?
I want to take you back in time a little bit, I like to call it BC…ya know, “Before COVID.” It was February 2018 when I first met my husband.
- You see, when we met, I learned that Caleb’s sister was currently in breast cancer remission and I shared with him that I had just lost my newborn nephew to a stillborn death.
- 2 months into dating, we got the call that Caleb’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.
- 1 month after that, Caleb got laid off from his company where he had spent the last 8.5 years
- 2 months later, I got news of some ‘potentially’ cancerous cells and my doctor said I would need surgery within the month.
- A week after my surgery, my brother called saying to come down immediately, dad was rushed to the ER and they can’t stop the bleeding.
- Then 2019 came and brought another health scare for me. We thought I needed a second open heart surgery.
The only bright spot of 2019 was our wedding….and then 2020 hit.
We all know how 2020 goes, right?
- This little thing called COVID happened.
- Then Caleb’s grandma passed away
- And now we are facing another breast cancer diagnoses….this time in my mom. This one hit me hard.
You better believe I was on my knees screaming, “God, where are you!?”
These are the moments the enemy can sneak in. The enemy uses lies, anger, vulnerable moments to tell us we aren’t enough, he tells us we need pills/alcohol, he works through our fears, he rests in our anxieties. 1 Peter 5:8 says this ‘Be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’
This is a battle. We can’t do it alone.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS!
God never once in the Bible says life will be easy. He gave His only son so that we could face these trials. He died so that we could have eternal life with Him. This is not the end.
Psalm 100: verse 5 says ‘for the Lord is GOOD!’
I’ll say it again. God’s promises are so much better than an easy life.
Isaiah 41:10 says this: “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Here is my favorite promise that God promises: Hebrews 13:5–‘I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.’
Do you know what I do on occasion to remind me of God’s promise within that verse? I look up the definition of the word ‘never.’ It seems silly I know, but stick with me. It says ‘at no time, on no occasion, not ever, not at all.’ I’m grateful for God’s timing and the gift I have in Caleb, but there is no way we would have gotten through these last three years without leaning on God’s promises, clinging to Scripture, and the truth that is within His Word. He is always with us.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 says: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.’’
Today my encouragement is simple. When you feel like tossing in the towel, when you want to fall to your knees and scream ‘Why God!? Where are you in all this?’ remember he is right by your side. God’s promises are so much better than the easy life. Cling to them.
By Amanda Schneider
Amanda Schneider grew up all over the Southeast. A Florida native, she loves a good southern meal, college football, and Jesus! She lives in her beautiful home with husband Caleb and two kitties, Beau and Bagheera. Amanda is heavily involved with her church and church community and she loves hosting people in her home, Fall season, making people laugh, and cooking anything!
