Who Art in Heaven

I began this devo a couple weeks ago, not knowing that I would hear news from family/friends that would cause its truth to be kneaded deeper into my soul. – Becky

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. NASB 1977 Matthew 6:9

For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28:24 BSB

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe]. Psalm 103:19 AMP

Like many of you, I have much on the plate of my life. And if I’m honest, that plate can sometimes feel like an over-sized Thanksgiving helping.  Recently, when that helping of life seemed to over-flow, I cried out to the Lord.  Not really sure how or what to pray, from memory, I began speaking out-loud the familiar words … “Our Father, Who art in heaven.”

Hearing my own voice say the words, “Who art in heaven” stopped me in my praying tracks.  Immediately I felt such awe for my Father God, and who He is. The One I’m speaking to, sits enthroned above the heavens.

His vantage point is heaven. Astounding. Talk about a Google earth perspective! He sees every detail. He sees around the corner of my tomorrows and my what-if questions. He sees it all at one time. From heaven itself. There is never a scenario that catches Him off guard. I get ruffled when I’m unsure if heavy traffic will make me late for work or about what’s happening in the lives of our grown kids and grandkids.

His sovereignty rules over all. He sits as King , and the only Sovereign of the universe. Whew. Such comfort. Such relief. Knowing that the enemy of cancer or emotional pain or disappointment or despair or divorce … None of these can sneak into my life apart from His permission, plan and purposes (think Job). Though all is not good in and of itself, all will be used for my good and His glory.

As I continued talking to the Lord that morning, my circumstances didn’t miraculously change, but being reminded of His vantage point, and yes, His authority over all that touches my life, drenched me in His peace. A peace separate from circumstances and tied only to the Presence of the One Who is enthroned above the heavens.

Whatever is attempting to steal your peace or has already done so, lay it down and look up to your Father God. Speak out the words, “My Father, Who art in heaven…” And be reminded this day of His Sovereign control over your life. He will not fail you.

Father God, I acknowledge You as Lord and Ruler over my life. My circumstances haven’t knocked You off Your heavenly throne.  Please enable me to focus on who You are, not the challenges surrounding me. I put them all in Your hands and rest, knowing that You are good and You are faithful. Please do whatever will bring You the most glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

*The Lord’s Prayer, as it commonly known, is an answer to the question, “Lord, teach us to pray,” posed to Jesus by His disciples.

Wounds that Heal


Can he have followed far who has no wound nor scar? – Amy Carmichael

…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. – Isaiah 61:3

…In my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. – Psalm 18:6 NLT

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11 NLT

All of us have scars or wounds of some kind. Some visible to the outside world and some not. It’s part of being human. The real question is, what do we do with those wounds? Or rather, what do we allow them to do to us? And will we let them go to waste?

As of this writing, nearly 46 years ago, (May 14th 1980) at about 6:20 am … My three- day-old baby girl died, exhaling her last, precious breath.

Tracing the memory back in my mind’s eye, I can still smell the fragrance of her newborn baby skin and the softness of her delicate hands and fingertips as they curled around my finger. The tragedy and guttural pain of that day is seared in my mind and memory – leaving a scar as real as any branding iron. Her short life ended in part due to my drug use and poor nutrition – and being barely 15 years old, I gave little thought to the life growing inside me. The pain of her death was made even worse because of the guilt I felt in her passing. I vividly recall holding her now lifeless body and whimpering through tears, “Look what I’ve done…” There are no words to describe the anguish a parent feels when a child dies, which is magnified beyond measure when our actions were part of that outcome.

I share that very personal and deeply painful memory because through her death, I cried out to God in desperation. And He heard my cry .

He hears your cries as well.

Desperation is a gift that comes wrapped in pain.


The nurses were so kind to allow me time alone in a room with a rocking chair, and my precious little one, who I named Tiffany Anne. In that room, I held her, rocked her and cried. Buckets of tears. Finally, I told God, “If You’re really there, and I’m not so sure You are … but if You are… would You help me? Wherever she is, I want to be someday and I don’t know how to get there ...”

46 years ago, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I had no idea what I was doing, but our God is true to His Word, He promises that if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. I found Jesus Christ alone in a hospital room at Children’s hospital, as I cradled my little one.


While there were no magic wands to wave away the series of bad choices I had already made, or would continue to struggle with for years to come – He has faithfully walked with me through it all. Walking out in real life the Truth that He does indeed “Cause all things to work together for our good and His glory.” Romans 8:28. And as C.S. Lewis so accurately put it, “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”


As you and I struggle through our own wounds-that-heal scenarios – I’m reminding you as I remind myself – He is no less faithful today as He was 45 years ago… Not to necessarily remove our trials but to walk us through them. And wonder of wonders, if placed in His hands, bring good from them along the way. To bring beauty from the ashes.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20 NIV


My Father, Your ability to turn ashes into beauty is beyond words. You enable Your children to walk through the fire of trials and emerge without even a hint of smoke. Astounding. I worship You in the beauty of Your holiness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.

To watch a short video of my story, click here.

Why Are You Cast Down?

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:11

Why am I cast down? (Some translations read, depressed or disturbed, while in the original Hebrew the words carry the meaning of being bowed or crouched down.) If you’ve ever felt the weight of your very soul being crouched down and bent over in despair you can relate to the pain embedded in these words.  In fact, I bet you can literally feel his words. Notice with me that the Psalmist is asking his own soul this penetrating question. “Why? Why are you in despair?”

It’s important that we probe our own soul with such questions. Asking, is this just a nebulous feeling of depression that’s always running in the background of our mind? The enemy loves to play that trick on us. Never really knowing the why of our ache, means we can’t find the answer to our ache. Others of us know exactly why we feel disquieted and cast down. Life has hit us between the eyes with a heartbreak or some cavernous regret or betrayal,  or an unexpected loss or grief. We can quickly put our finger on the why.

He then goes on to tell his soul what to do. “Hope in God.” Which makes me think that he recognized his hope was in something or someone other than God. Oh my… Have I been there! Hoping in the perfect circumstance or a specific outcome or even a person (including ourselves!). Nothing and no one, deserves our trust or should be the foundation for our hope, other than God Himself. When hope accidently edges toward a hoped-for outcome or a person, etc., depression or emotional ache or despair will inevitably result.

The Psalmist ends by reminding himself that the future is brighter than his soul is feeling. “I shall yet praise Him, my help and my God.” Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that this moment is not the totality of our life. This season or this trial or this feeling. We have a future and a hope found in the God we serve. In fact, that hope extends beyond this temporal life, into eternity. I don’t know about you, but that is so encouraging to me, because some of the issues that pain my heart, may never change.  And because of that, I need hope that goes beyond a temporary band aid of let’s-all-hold-hands-and-think-positive-thoughts as we sing Kumbaya. I need real hope. And so do you.

So, let’s ask ourselves the tough questions. Why am I cast down? And what/who have I placed my hope in? Then remind your self that there is a brighter future than you’re feeling right now. No matter your circumstances. Trust in Him. He will not fail you.

Suffering will push you into the arms of God.

– Joni Eareckson Tada

Father God, Help me slow down long enough to ask my soul these questions. Questions that You already know the answer to and have already made provision for. Would You give me the ability to hope in You even if and even when a situation feels as if all hope is lost, I will hope in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Sausage Scenarios

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Some of the challenges we face in life can be compared to making sausage. (Bear with me on the analogy!) A plump, grilled bratwurst tastes delicious, but you definitely don’t want to watch the creation process! Just trust that the maker knows what He’s doing as you wait for the end result.

But if you’re anything like me, when I’m faced with difficulties, I often make the mistake of “watching the process” a bit too close. I notice all the ingredients, all the prep work, all the grinding, and the pressing into the casing sleeve…and then the heat of the fire… And I begin to lose heart. Lose focus. Lose hope.

Recently, as my mind lingered long on a particular sausage-making trial, I said a quick prayer of, “O Father…You know what they need, please help.”  Looking down,  my eye caught a worn and stained post-it note taped to my desk with these words, “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  And “Do not grow weary in doing good…”

O, Father! How I needed to be reminded of that Truth! Help me trust You and not give up.

That little post-it note Scripture enabled me to snap back to a Christ-centered, God-is-bigger-than anything-we-face reality. A reality that doesn’t ignore life’s trials but rather, puts them in perspective. The truth is, we all have trials to walk through, but if we stare too long at the “process”, we will lose heart. Lose focus. Lose hope.

What is your sausage scenario? Have you stared long at…

Your pain

Your health

Your loneliness

Your children, or your lack of children

Your spouse, or your lack of a spouse

Your career challenges

Your disappointment

Your list of what if’s

Your Prodigals

Your loss

Your grief…?

It’s okay. Admit it. But don’t stay there. Look up from your sausage-trial and back to your God. Ask Him to help you refocus, to snap back to a Christ-centered reality rather than staring at your sausage scenario.     He is at work. He is faithful. His Word is true.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”

Corrie ten Boom

Father, Please help me to refocus onto You rather than the impossibility in front of me. Even as I do all I can – praying and serving, enable me to rest and trust You and Your word more than what I see and feel.  Thank you Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Written by Becky White for my Lord Jesus

Beyond Hope?

“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel (aka Jacob) said to Joseph, “but now God has let me see your children as well.”  Genesis 48:11 BSB

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… Romans 4:18a BSB

The situation looks hopeless. Feels hopeless. By all accounts, is hopeless. Have such thoughts ever gripped your heart? Is there a person or circumstance or trial – something that appears beyond even the hint of a miracle? Have you, like me, without even realizing it, begun the slide into there’s-no-way-this-will-ever-change thinking? Leaving our omnipotent God out of the equation in the process?

In my own life, I have a this-looks-hopeless situation that readily comes to mind. Well, to be totally honest, there are a few. But as our Lord would have it, while driving to work and listening to a sermon/podcast, I was stopped in my tracks. Both encouraged and convicted by a speaker’s message. He reminded the listeners how easy it is to slide into despair or hopelessness, when we forget the sovereignty of our all-powerful God and assume (privately) that He’s forgotten all about us. And when we allow our circumstances to dictate what we believe God is capable of. He also reminded us that we don’t have all the facts of any given situation, but God does. But often, we act like we know better. Or maybe it’s just me.

Are we willing to trust God when it “feels” like He’s forgotten us, or when life “feels” unfair or worst of all, when a situation looks and feels hopeless?

Oh, the speaker offered no magic-wand outcomes. The truth is, God may very well allow great trial into our lives… for extended periods of time. But He can be trusted to bring good out of all we (His children) face. There is hope, in even the most hopeless circumstance. So, let’s keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep singing His praises. Whatever the outcome He chooses for us, He is good and He is faithful.

Like Jacob in today’s Scripture, what expectation have you given up on? Let me encourage you not to despair. Hope against hope. I’m preaching to myself as I preach to you. Let’s hope, trust and then bow to the will of our God. Hopelessness is a lie of the enemy.

Let’s hope, trust and then bow to the will of our God

Becky White

Let me end with this; A young college student asked the renowned theologian, C.H. Spurgeon, “I’m having trouble understanding why bad things happen to some people, it doesn’t seem fair.” Spurgeon replied, “Young man, give God credit for knowing some things you don’t.”  Amen!

The lowest point in the tide is often the turning of the tide.

It’s always too early to throw in the towel.  – Philip De Courcy

Let’s pray…

Father God, please forgive me for my lack of trust in Your care and for limiting You, the Holy One. I lay my hopeless looking situations into Your hands and trust that You will do the impossible or walk me through the impossible. But may I not neglect to pray just because it looks and feels impossible. I love and worship You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

The Gospel 101

Offering God “Advice”

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” …. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”

Luke 23:35-39 NASB 1995  (Also see Luke 24)

Recently, a friend and I were discussing how God could easily craft the perfect ending to a particular tragedy engulfing a close family friend. If God would just do “A” and then, “B”, and maybe a little bit of “C,” I’m sure that “D” will be the outcome. Mentally rubbing our hands together in a job-accomplished finish, “See, God. All figured out. Let me know if You need any more suggestions.”

I can hear the laughter from here! However, I bet it’s a familiar mental conversation to some of you. Or maybe you’re too spiritual to have ever secretly thought God could use some advice. But many of us have secretly thought we knew more than God. Let’s admit it and then unpack the truth of the matter. Because the truth is that God declares the end from the beginning, He knows what He’s doing and He can be trusted – even when it looks like a hot, tragic mess. Just hold on.

While Scripture offers many examples of this, let’s take in the scene described in today’s Scripture. Jesus Christ, the Man who declared Himself to be the Son of God, the Man who raised the dead, healed lepers, fed thousands with sardines and crackers and gave sight to a blind man … His bloody and beaten-beyond- human-recognition body is hanging on a cross, nailed there by mere humans (Isaiah 53). Mingled with that sight, we hear words of mocking accusation, “If He really is the Son of God, let Him save Himself, then we’ll believe. He saved others. Let Him save Himself.” At this point, if this were an action movie, the star would rip his muscular arms free from the iron nails and leap from the splintery wooden cross as he lunges forward and drop kicks the sneering guards. But this is no Hollywood movie. And Jesus Christ is no mere man. He is God in the flesh. And He always has the long (eternal) view in mind.

He allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves and longs for. He did not save Himself, so that He could save us. Eternally.

He often allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves and longs for. He did not save Himself, so that He could save us. Eternally.

So too, in our own lives, He may allow what He hates to accomplish what He loves and longs for. A new level of no-matter-what-happens kind of trust, or the salvation of a family member or possibly a living example of what it looks like to walk through tragedy, even as God holds our trembling hand.

Just as in the scene at the cross, there is a lost, and watching world all around us. The onlookers are wondering, is our trust only as deep and wide as a full bank account or good health or sunny days? Will we trust, even when God does not take our advice, that He is still good and He is still faithful and that He has a plan? This truth is something that always needs refresher courses.

Whatever the challenge today, let’s remember the cross. He’s got this.

Father, I know it’s both hilarious and idiotic to think we know more than You. That somehow, I understand and see, what You do not. Forgive me Lord. Help me stand on the truth that You sit as King over all that floods my life and are at work in all I bring to You. Great is Your faithfulness to me, O God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.

“Save” in Greek σῶσον (sōson) To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

Click here to purchase a hard copy or get a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths

So that…

As He passed along, He noticed a man blind from his birth. His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.    John 9:1-3 AMPC / NASB

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

While Jesus took time to actually notice the man born blind, and now begging for a living, His disciples landed on another approach.  Observing the overwhelming trial the man endured, they wanted to know why he was born blind in the first place. “What did he or his family do to deserve this?”, they asked, with an implied assumption. Not exactly empathy in action. Jesus explained, “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in Him.” I’ll be the first to admit, being born blind in that culture isn’t something I would have volunteered for.  And yet, this man was given the honor of being used so that … his life and eventual healing might be used to display God’s glory.

Later, the Apostle Paul tells us that God comforted him, so that he might be able to comfort others with the same comfort he had received. God allowed painful trials into Paul’s life, so that his need would drive him to the God of all comfort. So that … he could authentically comfort others.

Hospital bracelet

Now, let’s get real world. I have a few “so that” scenarios in my own life (I bet you do too). My first-born daughter, Tiffany Anne, died at three days old… Gut-punch excruciating. As I look back at that tragedy, it was through her death that I gave my life to Christ.

So that I might surrender to the Saviour… and glorify God.

Foot prints

Fourteen years later, I gave birth to a still-born son. Yet another horrific ache that words cannot adequately express. I can’t as easily see the “why” of his death, but through such profound loss, God has graced me with authentic empathy and compassion for others who suffer and long to know “why.”

So that I might share the comfort I received… and glorify God.

Heart surgery aftermath

Just over a year ago I suffered a health emergency that nearly took my life, and that included months of rehabilitation. Out of that trial came more empathy and a devotional book (Stony Paths, learning to trust Him on the stony paths of real life) with a message of encouragement for those who walk through their own stony paths

So that I might offer authentic hope… and glorify God.

And of course, the ultimate, so that, is Jesus Christ giving His life as a ransom for us. Living a sinless life, suffering, dying and rising from the dead … so that you and I might have a way to the Father.

Let’s bring it back home. What “so that” situations have been allowed into your life? Think it through. Hold them up to the light. Is there a tragedy or a difficulty that God has graced you with so that….? Allow Him to use your life, and all you’ve endured, as a display of His glory.

We must understand that for God to give “songs in the night,” He must first make it night.

C. H. Spurgeon

Father, Oh how I long to bring glory to Your great name!  I hand You all that has touched my life, use it as an illustration of Your goodness, faithfulness and a display of Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

When Pain Steals our Voice

I cry aloud to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble, I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted…I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Psalm 77:1-2, 4a, 10-12 ESV

If you’ve ever experienced gut-wrenching, this-can’t-be-happening pain, you will appreciate the Psalmists raw honesty in his words of anguish. Crying out to the Most High for comfort and probably a miracle, yet the continuing pain caused him to spiral to the edge of being unable to even speak. At one point he begins questioning if God is listening at all, and ends up wondering if the promises of God are no longer valid. For him. For his circumstance. Pain so intense, it steals our voice. Even to pray…

Have you been there? I admit I have.

One thing I so appreciate about the Psalms is that they never leave us there. We are onlookers of the raw reality of the people of God wrestling out real pain and heartache, against the backdrop of God’s faithfulness. Read further, and we’ll see how the Holy Spirit enabled Asaph (the one who penned this Psalm) to go from hopeless to the Truth that God is guiding our footsteps, even when encountering the painful and stony paths of real life. And for that reason, there is hope. We are not left to the whims of the enemy or chance or happenstance.

Right in the middle of his anguish, we see him apply mental breaks and choose to reroute his thinking. Nearly forcing himself to remember the past deeds of the Lord, the past record of His faithfulness. Deed by miraculous deed, calling to mind the greatness of our God. This did not cause his trial to evaporate, instead, it enabled him to put it in the proper perspective and regain his trust in the trustworthy God we serve. In spite of all that appeared wrong and painfilled.

Let’s bring this back to our lives, what will we do when our day of trouble comes? Let me encourage you (as I encourage myself) to grab a Bible, open to Psalm 77 and read aloud His Word. I pray we too will walk away knowing that even in this, He is guiding our steps. He is listening to our silent cries and He is aware.

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart. When you are so weak that you cannot do much more than cry, you coin diamonds with both your eyes. The sweetest prayers God ever hears are the groans and sighs of those who have no hope in anything but his love.”  – Charles Spurgeon

Oh Father, Help me remember, to purposefully force my focus, onto all that You have done, all that You are doing. And rest that You are the same God today as You were then. I choose to trust You and, in Your faithfulness, whatever the outcome. I bow in worship to You, my Father and my God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Because You Prayed

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Because you have prayed to Me …”

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Isaiah 37:21a NASB     James 5:16a NASB

In the middle of the crisis, it just didn’t occur to me. Busily making decisions and finding solutions as I dealt with the reality in front of me, I forgot all about praying. Only as the crisis subsided did it occur to me that I had completely forgotten … to pray. Not even a whisper of, “Help, Lord!” came from my lips or heart. Honestly, I would like you to think I’m so spiritual that it’s always my first response, but it’s not. Try as I might, there are (many) times when I react, rather than pray, and then ask God to bless my hurried response.

 While reading through the OT book of Isaiah I noticed a stunning phrase that leapt off the page at me. “Because you have prayed to Me”… The LORD goes on to express what He will do for King Hezekiah simply because he prayed. This praying king is confronted with a physical army coming against him on the outside, along with taunts intended to strike a paralyzing fear within him. The army’s leaders mock the king for trusting in God, “After all”, they tell him, “Have any other nations so-call gods, saved them? What makes you think your god will be any different?”

“Because you have prayed to Me“… I picked up the phrase and held it to the light, taking in the depth of truth embedded within. Wondering out loud I asked, “Father, why does prayer move Your hand?” His Spirit spoke this simple thought to my heart; To pray is to trust.

To pray is to humble ourselves and acknowledge that we need Him. That He alone has the answers. Prayer breathes out the truth that He is mighty and able to answer and able to help us. Even if His answer is “no”, or “not yet.”

Our only guaranteed outcome is that He is always good,
and always faithful. And we can trust Him.

Becky White

God went on to give King Hezekiah a tremendous victory that day. Through this praying king’s real-life crisis, I am reminded that our God’s mighty hand is moved through simple, trusting prayer.

Whatever crisis you’re facing, whether it’s monumental in scope or a pebble-in-the-shoe irritation, pray. Right now, this moment, unburden your heart. I don’t know how He will respond, but this I know … He will respond … and He will honor your faith to seek His face.

Prayer is my acknowledgement that I need God, while my lack of prayer reveals the opposite.

Becky White

Father, please forgive my pride, I know that’s the real issue of my heart. Go ahead, do whatever it takes to remind me of this truth – I need You. Period. For all things and in everything. Forgive my self-sufficient attitude. I lay _____________ in Your hands, please move in that situation, Father. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

What’s the Goal?

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Isaiah 43:7 ESV 1,  Corinthians 10:31

While serving and chatting with friends, my raspy, and newly baritone voice, gave evidence to the cold I’d been fighting all week. Amidst the, “I’ll pray for you” and, “Oh, you sound awful,” came something along these lines. “I pray that stuff away, it can’t come on me.” The words were pregnant with the implied idea that sicknesses (or any “difficult” thing) are always something that we ought to/should be able to pray away.

The poor guy had no idea what puddle he’d just stepped into.

Thus began my short, but penetrating theological dive into the value of life’s thorns and struggles. My main point to him was this; our life is for one purpose. To bring Him glory. Sometimes, that is best achieved through a miraculous healing or intervention, but much more often, God’s glory is manifested in how He walks us through life’s inevitable challenges. As those around us see His peace in the midst of our pain, His comfort as we grieve, or His strength as we handle years-long trials … He receives glory and we are provided with a unique opportunity to testify of His faithfulness, not to always remove our difficulties, but to walk us through them. And that speaks volumes to a hurting world.

I don’t say this lightly, because I know from experience that trials can be severe. And painful. And gut wrenching. Maybe you do too. Much more so than fighting my trivial cold. But the goal is always, the same – His glory. Not a particular outcome, not our happiness or even the happiness of someone we love. Whatever it takes, with whatever instrument He chooses, may His glory be displayed in our lives.

True, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray or ask for specific outcomes, but it does mean that the specific-outcome-request, should end with, “Whatever will bring You the most glory, Lord. That’s my goal, to honor You.”

Let’s be challenged to look our trials full in the face, and ask ourselves, “Am I allowing God to use this circumstance for His glory or am I focused solely on praying my way out of it?” And in the process, getting angry, or feeling neglected, or impatient as weeks drag into months or years? Hey, no judgement call here, I’ve been there a time or two or ten. But we must not allow ourselves to camp there. We lay our request in His sovereign and all-knowing hands and trust that He will work it all out for our good and His glory. Even death. Even a prison sentence. Even betrayal. Even dashed expectations. And yes, even the sniffles.

“I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.”

Corrie Ten Boom

Father God, I am so very thankful, so very grateful for Your mercy and grace. Though I definitely prefer a problem-free life, it’s an honor for the challenges swirling around me, to be used to bring glory to Your name. Thank You precious Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*For in-depth study on this topic, check out 1 Peter 3 and 4 and James 1. As well as the real-life Biblical stories of Job, and most importantly, of our Lord Himself. For a modern-day example, investigate the true story of Pastor Andrew Brunson.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus