Going through long seasons of pain, sadness, or any other unfavourable circumstance can dampen the faith and confidence of many believers, but it should never be a reason to stop hoping in God, who makes all things beautiful in its time (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The Christian life is indeed full of trials. Right from the moment we repent of our sins and turn to Christ for our salvation, the devil sets his sights on us and considers us his targets. God, who will never do us evil, allows us to go through devil-inflicted hardships so that we would grow in Christ-likeness (Christ was tested too, right?) and see His gracious, mighty hand working in our lives.
Trust Him. What you go through doesn't happen by chance.
Here are three reasons why you can and should hope in God again after going through a long and painful season of hardship.
1. God Wants to Make You More Like Christ
Romans 8:28-29 tells us that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."
Whatever we went through, no matter how long and painful that season was, if we look back to it we'll surely see lessons that will help us become more like Christ. We need to see that God wasn't out to hurt or harm us. Rather, He was there to see us through the pain so that we could be transformed to the likeness of Christ, who went through all sorts of hurt and pain.
2. God's Plans for You Are Always Good, Pleasing, and Perfect
In Jeremiah 29:11, God promised us that His plans for us aren't to harm us, but to prosper us, give us hope and a future. In Romans 12:2, we are assured that if we are transformed by having our minds renewed towards God, we will find that His will for us is good, pleasing, and perfect.
By these, we are assured that all the pain that we go through fits in with God's plans to bless us. He's good, and has nothing but goodness for all of us.
3. God Has Goodness in Store for You
Think that nothing good will ever come to you, now that you've gone through a season of battering and hardship? Think again.
Psalm 23 enumerates all the benefits that we'll receive if we let God shepherd us. Verse 6 specifically sums it all up, and we should all take this to heart as our daily declaration as God's flock.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
God only has goodness and mercy stored up for those who are in Christ. If you are a Christ-follower who has gone through all sorts of pain in pursuing our Saviour, don't lose heart – He is there for you.
