Austin's Blog

We need to adjust our expectations and understand rightly what the Word of God promises. So often we are disappointed because God doesn’t keep promises He never made in the first place. We get upset that He isn’t providing in the specific way we want. We need to remember though that this is not the best possible world. It is the world that leads to the best possible world (Heaven). As Christians, we are never promised unending ease, comfort, and earthly security in this life. Jesus said in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” You will have tribulation—not you might or may have tribulation. When I read the New Testament, I see a description of the present world as one of groaning. People die. Earthquakes and tsunamis happen. Diseases spread. Persecution occurs. Romans 8:22-23 says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Creation is groaning. We are groaning. Even the Holy Spirit within us is groaning (Rom. 8:26-27).

Many Christians in previous times understood what living in this fallen world truly entailed. They didn’t pray for lighter crosses; they prayed for stronger backs. They understood that Christians triumph when Christ is all in all in the end. Our best life comes later. God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our deaths. He does not always fulfill every earthly desire. He does not always spare or free us from pain, sorrow, sickness, and even death. Your dreams won’t always come true in this life. Jared C. Wilson writes, “I have a problem with all the ‘chase your dreams!’ cheerleading from Christian leaders. It’s not because I begrudge people who want to achieve their dreams, but because I think we don’t readily see how easy it is to conflate our dream-chasing with God’s will in Christ. You know, it’s possible that God’s plan for us is littleness. His plan for us may be personal failure. It’s possible that when another door closes, it’s not because he plans to open the window but because he plans to have the building fall down on you. The question we must ask ourselves is this: Will Christ be enough?” The promise is all things are working towards the good of Christ-likeness (Rom. 8:28-30) in us. The promise is the love of God will not fail us. Nothing will separate us from His love (Rom. 8:31-39). It isn’t earthly victory and a steady life of ease.

God loves us too much to allow us to bed down here in this world as it is passing away. C.S. Lewis poignantly reminds us, “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” Someone told me at the funeral, “God is going to bless you something big. There’s no way he would have you go through this and not provide a greater blessing afterward.” I responded as I pointed to my beloved boy, “Dear sister, he was the blessing” and hugged her neck. Why did I respond that way? “The Lord is in the Heavens and He does whatever He pleases.” (Psa. 115:3) He is under no obligation to give me a greater blessing. What are we to do when our blessings are taken away? What are we to do as we groan inwardly as our world around us gives way? What are we to do when the life we have so often does not line up with what we thought would be? John Piper writes, “Occasionally, weep deeply over the life that you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Feel the pain. Then wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life that he’s given you.” The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.