Process

God is always watching over us and protecting us, and arranging circumstances so that “all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Sometimes as this process unfolds we go through periods of disruption, loss, sadness, frustration and injustice. I’ve seen it happen again and again in my own life as well in the lives of people I know.

I like to call it a “process” when this happens because, according to my dictionary, a process is (1) “a forward or onward movement, as to an objective or a goal, or (2) “a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result.”

Keeping this definition in mind may help us look at those dark periods in our lives in a way that makes sense out of them. The disappointment or even tragedy is part of a “forward or onward movement;” that is, it will not remain in the same unpleasant condition forever. Our suffering is leading somewhere. (Think of Christ on the cross as an example).

The second definition of process is even more hopeful. There is a result (or objective) to our difficulties, and this result is something that God has in mind as he is acting in our lives.

And so in those times of difficulty we are able to think that “this too shall pass,” and also that God is working things out that we don’t understand at present but which will be revealed in time. Sometimes it takes a long time; other times the whole process unfolds rather quickly.

I just saw it happen with one of my students. He lost X and was very upset. Just two weeks later, his life changed and he found himself enjoying Y and understanding that the things that caused the loss were necessary in order for him to be blessed by Y. (I hope this isn’t too vague for you, but I didn’t want to go in to telling the whole story.) And so X became a source of great blessing.

Has that happened in your life before? I know it has in mine. And if you’re going through a difficult time right now, remember that you are in a process that will ultimately lead towards a good. That’s how God arranges things in our lives, thanks be to God.

May he bless you always.