{"id":348796,"date":"2023-07-11T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reasons.org\/?p=348796"},"modified":"2023-07-11T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T12:00:00","slug":"gods-care-amid-lifes-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reasons.org\/god\/is-god-good\/gods-care-amid-lifes-challenges","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s Care Amid Life\u2019s Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems that life presents? Those hardships may come in the form of health challenges, emotional difficulties, family troubles, or a financial crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or have you ever felt all alone\u2014isolated, lonely, and seemingly without family and close friends? Sometimes these feelings are brought on by divorce, bereavement, depression, or even a pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound mental health depends upon the ability to effectively cope with life\u2019s problems. How can Christians deal with such issues? I\u2019ll briefly address the problem of pain and suffering from the aspect of a believer in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christians and the Challenges of Life<\/strong>
The Christian life consists of living a life of faith, hope, and love by God\u2019s grace in light of what he has revealed about himself and the saving relationship we have with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I go through tough times I take my concerns to God in prayer but I also ask other Christians to pray for me. On some occasions I\u2019ve sought advice from my pastor and professional counselors I know. Christians should not hesitate to seek the help of qualified professionals when we go through difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, when facing hard times I seek to apply my theology to my situation. Here\u2019s an example of biblical truth that\u2019s helped me in my devotional time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of historic Christianity\u2019s greatest theologians have identified the Psalms as one of their favorite Old Testament books (e.g., Augustine, Luther, Calvin). It\u2019s also one of my favorites, with Psalm 139 in particular possibly topping the list. Scholars generally view this psalm as consisting of four poetic stanzas or paragraphs (with the specific verses numbered accordingly: 1\u20136, 7\u201312, 13\u201318, 19\u201324).1<\/sup> I appreciate this psalm because it is profoundly comforting. Its general theme is \u201cGod\u2019s intimate knowledge of his people.\u201d2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Psalm 139:1\u20136<\/strong>: God Knows All about Us<\/strong>
1 <\/sup><\/strong>You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 <\/sup><\/strong>You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 <\/sup><\/strong>You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4 <\/sup><\/strong>Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 <\/sup><\/strong>You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 <\/sup><\/strong>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This part of the psalm reveals that God has a detailed and deeply personal knowledge of everything about us, including our thoughts, words, and actions. We cannot evade the Creator and Redeemer\u2019s infinite awareness of each of us. Such realization of God\u2019s awesome knowledge can seem intimidating. Yet verse five\u2019s \u201cyou lay your hand upon me\u201d reflects a gentle, caring concern on the Lord\u2019s part. As the Expository Bible Commentary<\/em> notes: \u201cThe placement of the divine hand signifies protection and blessing.\u201d3<\/sup> The psalm writer (thought to be Israel\u2019s King David) responds in verse six with an expression reflecting the finite creature\u2019s astonishment and incomprehensibility concerning God\u2019s limitless knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the context of our suffering, this psalm assures us that the Lord knows, understands, and cares about our challenging conditions or circumstances. In light of how these poetic verses in Psalm 139 reflect God\u2019s attribute of omniscience (all knowledge), theologian John Jefferson Davis offers this devotional application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGod knows his children intimately. Even the very hairs of their head are numbered (Mt 10:30). This pervasive knowledge on God\u2019s part is intended to be a comfort and source of security to his people.\u201d4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway<\/strong>
As believers in Jesus Christ we don\u2019t want to suffer or see the ones we love suffer, but pain and sorrow are part of the human condition in a fallen world. Concerning our mental and spiritual health, Christian psychologists Mark Cosgrove and James Mallory offer the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndividuals need to take part in spiritual realities by entering into an ongoing relationship with a loving God. It is apparent in the Bible that God wants people to live with a certain mindset in order to know full mental and spiritual health.\u201d5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 139 reveals that our Creator-Redeemer God has a plan for his children\u2019s well-being, and we can be confident of his love and providential care even in the midst of pain and suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflections: Your Turn <\/strong>
What spiritual practices do you engage in when going through difficult times?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n