Hope in a Hard PlaceSample

My Hard Place

When I was 37 years old, my husband of 15 years went to bed on New Years night and – he died. He hadn’t been sick; he just went to bed and woke up in heaven. He was a pastor and when he died, I found myself not only grieving, but having to raise our teenage sons and pastor the church without him. I know a little something about hard places. 

But here’s what I learned in the midst of that hard place: God is faithful. He can see you through. He still has a good plan (even if it looks nothing like you thought it would – it can be even better!). He still thinks you’re coming out on top. If fact, the Bible says He always causes you to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). 

My sons and I have lived out this truth. We have a saying in our family when hard times come: “If anyone’s going to come out on top in this situation, it’s going to be us!” We are all serving God today, strengthened by His goodness and His mercy toward us. God knows how to take horrible things that have happened to you and make them turn out good.

Romans 8:28 is one of the theme verses of my life: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Yes, all things. Notice, it doesn’t say all things are good. It says that God knows how to take even the horrible things and work them out for good. If it is not good yet, then the story just isn’t over!

The key lies in the first three words of the verse, “And we know.” You have to know (believe) that God will bring you out of your troubles and you’ll come out on top. You get that knowing from His Word.