What Is God Doing in My Life? 4 Truths About Trials
This morning, I was startled to find the wood line painted grey. Nevertheless, the bleak scene matched the state of my soul. I sat by the window and wondered, What is God doing in my life?
Above the hardwoods, a lavender cloud arched its back into the shape of a question mark. Perhaps the heavens were questioning God’s purposes as well.
Later in the day, I took a walk beneath the naked arms of the maples, oaks, and sycamores.
I let my mind trace the footprints of a handful of recent disappointments—disappointments that felt far heavier than a dismal shift of seasons. I counted the losses, stared down some shattered dreams, and let the weight of a tough season settle heavily on my shoulders.
What is God doing in my life?
As I walked, I let myself face feelings of disappointment and discouragement.
I asked that hard question again, “What is God doing in my life?”
The forest was silent.
I thought of the disciple Peter as I walked. After denying Jesus three times, Peter wept bitter tears. Most likely, Peter faced some tough days when he returned to his trade as a fisherman. Most likely, his heart ached as he looked back with regret.
Shortly after Peter’s betrayal, Jesus returned to the shoreline to reinstate Peter as they shared a meal. Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Ultimately, Jesus restored Peter and commissioned him to lead others in the faith.
It seems Jesus knew something Peter did not know.
Jesus knew that Peter’s denials would bring to light a part of Peter’s heart that needed to change before he could lead others.
In the same way, Jesus knows the parts of our hearts that need to come into the light so that he can remove our stumbling blocks. He often uses trials, pain, and disappointment to purify our hearts.
Nothing purifies like the refining fire.
We like to quote Romans 8:28 and declare that God works all things together for good, but we often neglect the verse that comes next. The next verse tells us that God’s idea of “good” is shaping our hearts to look more like Jesus’ heart.
God Uses Trials to Shape Us Into Jesus’ Image
As I walked beneath the sycamores, I considered the troubles I’ve faced throughout the past season. Suddenly, God’s good purpose became clear: God is using discomfort to bring the impurities in my heart into the light. When these impurities come into the light, they can be removed.
Friend, your heavenly Father wants to speak truth into your discouraging circumstances as well.
He is calling you to face your pain instead of running from it because running from your pain might be the very behavior that is continually blocking you from your breakthrough. No matter what you are facing today, God wants to use it for his good purposes.
Let’s look at four ways God works all things together for good in our lives. Perhaps these truths will help you see what God is doing in your life when your circumstances don’t make sesne.
What Is God Doing in My Life? Four Possibilities:
1. God uses difficulties to point us to our unchanging source of hope.
When we live with hope based on pleasant circumstances, our hope is bound to falter through life’s difficult seasons.
Difficulties remind us to put our hope in Jesus—the One who has promised never to leave us.
Throughout the darkest valleys of my life, I have learned to speak these words: “My hope is not in getting to the other side of this valley. My hope is in the One who has promised to walk with me each step of the way.”
“My hope is not in getting to the other side of this valley. My hope is in the One who has promised to walk with me each step of the way.” #hope Click To Tweet2. Difficulties lead us to the unchanging part of our identities.
I’ve been known to come unglued when life goes off the rails. Not long ago, a friend gently asked me, “Stacey, are you stressed out because you’ve put too much worth in how this turns out?”
I realized that I was finding my identity through my performance again.
God wants us to find our identities in the only truth about us that can never change: We are his beloved children.
This can never be taken away from us.
Difficult times have a way of showing us where we have anchored our identities on shifting sands. God is calling us to plant our feet on the foundation of his love for us.
3. God uses trials to shift our priorities.
God often uses painful circumstances to draw us back to his first two commands: Love God and love others (see Luke 10:27).
We are meant to live our lives loving God and loving others.
Our disappointments often tear down idols like success, perfectionism, and even unhealthy dependence upon relationships. God uses our disappointments to remind us of what matters most in our lives.
4. Struggles teach us about dependence.
When life is rolling along smoothly, we begin to believe we can make it on our own.
We’re prone to turn away from God and turn toward independence.
Painful seasons remind us of our desperation to lean on the One who guides our paths and carries us through the rivers and the fires of life.
What Is God Doing in My Life?
I walk through the autumn forest until darkness comes. When I return to the house, I wish I could say that my heart feels lighter.
It doesn’t.
Facing my disappointment head-on is harder than pushing the pain aside and barreling forward with both eyes on the horizon. However, it’s also well worth every painful step of the journey.
I know that God is calling me to keep pressing forward. This is true for you today, too, friend. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. God is working in your life. He is preparing you for a future calling that will crush you if you don’t build the stamina needed to face it.
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God:
Let God Set You Free will help you find victory over fear, worry, and doubt by leading you on a 14-day journey into God’s Truth. For a limited time, get this online devotional for free right here with promo code FREE.
These two books are free on Kindle Unlimited or available to purchase in print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for 12.99 in print right here. This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling all mothers and daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find your free Kindle Unlimited eBook or buy it in print for just 11.99 right here.
