Do you ever feel like God doesn't see you—see your hurts, your pain, your fears? Or that he doesn’t care? Do you ever feel alone on this planet? Like you’re one of billions of people—but not just that—that you’re an insignificant one? God sees you, he knows you, and he cares. Far from being forgotten, he knows your name. He knows the number of hairs on your head. After all, if he’s aware of every sparrow that falls, is he not aware of you?
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29–31, NIV)
The Lord knows how to rescue Godly men from trials. (2 Peter 2:9)
Consider the purpose of the difficulties you're facing. Sometimes I'm slow to realize that God has allowed struggles into my life for my benefit. In March, I wrote about a difficult situation that I faced with the leasing office at my apartment complex.* God amazingly resolved the issue, but it hasn’t been the last. Ongoing challenges with the property management company have given me a unique, and actually welcome, opportunity.
You see, I don't like conflict. Beyond that, I'm afraid of it. It's very hard at times to engage in conflict if I think the other party will get angry. This has kept many relationships from being as full as they could be. At times, it's also kept me from resolving problems. I often prefer to accept the status quo rather than healthily battling toward resolve. Dealing with unreasonable management is helping me confront and grow beyond this unhealthy fear. In truth, I don't want to live a lonely life with shallow relationships, and I don't want to feel stuck, unhappy, or perpetually frustrated because I allow solvable problems to linger.
So, I must put on courage that God gives me to enter conflict when life calls for it. I'm able to do this when I recognize that he's good, present, and willing fight with and for me to secure a just outcome. He sees me and he cares.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides [him], who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)
Troubles enter our lives for a season, and when they've achieved their purpose, God brings us through to the other side. When our lives are given over to him, and we’re walking in obedience, the outcome is always what it needs to be: “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19).
