Inside: If the life lessons from a tough season aren’t immediately obvious, don’t lose heart. God has a purpose, and waiting is often part of the process. ~
What is God trying to teach me through this?
Raise your hand if you’ve ever asked yourself this question. Keep it up if you found the inquiry to be unhelpful, perhaps even counterproductive.
I’ve been there, desperately wanting to know God’s long-term purposes for me in a season designed for rest, healing and patience development. It’s hard to wait and trust, that’s for sure.
Beyond That …
The question also makes God seem like a novice instructor who doesn’t really know the best way to get through to His struggling student.
Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the God who created each one of us, after all. He knows how we are formed. He wired us together. He’s numbered our days and the hairs on our heads.
With our heavenly Father, there is no try. He knows how we learn best, and He knows how best to teach us.
What’s the Point?
Plus, maybe God trying to teach us something isn’t even the point of our trials. Not all the time, anyway.
We want to know the reason for our struggle because we think that would make it easier to bear. But what if we can’t know, at least not immediately?
If we feel like some lesson that we’re missing is what’s keeping us from a full recovery, it just puts more pressure on us. To get it. To know what might be unknowable at the time. To learn the right thing fast enough.
As if we are in control of anything.
No Extra Credit
God doesn’t hand us a syllabus after we break our leg that outlines the lessons He expects us to learn while we’re doing our physical therapy exercises at home. That would be nice, but that’s not how it works.
We don’t get grades for how we respond to trials. There’s no extra credit, no pass-fail, no curve.
Instead, we need to remember that whatever we’re going through is part of a process. Yes, we will likely learn things as a result of this. Other people will probably learn things too.
God has a purpose. There will be helpful outcomes. There will be growth. But these things take time.
In the Waiting
Maybe it’s a developmental thing. If so, the waiting is often part of the process, just like the struggle.
It’s always beneficial to pray for guidance and direction, to ask God to shine a loving spotlight on our character, attitude and behavior in case there are areas we need to work on. But if the “lessons” aren’t obvious, we shouldn’t think we are doing something wrong.
We may have a-ha experiences in the wilderness, in the thick of the battle or in the valley of the shadow, but we also may not notice growth until we’re looking at a season in the rearview mirror. Or until we experience something similar later on and suddenly see that we are not responding how we once did.
Remember This
There’s nothing wrong with asking, “What is God trying to teach me?” But if that question starts to frustrate you like it has me, remember this.
God knows what we need, and in His sovereignty, He lovingly provides it. Life is one big continuing education session—we’re never really done until God calls us home.
Until then, His goal is not to get us through the trial and back in shape. As much as we might prefer it, He’s not looking to get us back on our feet and on our way.
His overarching desire—through all the ups and downs of life—is for us to become more like Him.
• • •
In Case You Missed It
I sent out the first issue of my subscriber-only, email newsletter, Courage, Dear Heart, last week. Going forward, the newsletter will replace my third blog post of each month.
I’m so thankful for those of you who have subscribed. If you’re not on the list yet, I’d love for you to sign up today. As my way of saying thanks, you will receive a seven-day devotional called Faith, Fear, and the God Who Goes Before Us once you subscribe.
♥ Lois
God has a purpose. There will be helpful outcomes. There will be growth. But these things take time. Share on X Life is one big continuing education session—we’re never really done until God calls us home. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
20 comments
This is me Lois. I needed to hear this today. When my chronic illnesses are running amuck I always think what is God teaching me in this, what am I supposed to be learning? And the wait with other situations, well I surrendered my situations to Him and remember that he’s working behind the scenes for my good and His Glory. So my wait becomes easier. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I still cry out to him, but I know I can go straight to Him for comfort and peace. Instead of doing a “ya, but…. Let me just help you with that”. Because I know his time and solution is not my time and solution. I love this Lois. Sending prayers your way.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend. I appreciate you and am so happy you’re here.
Aw, Paula … I’m so thankful for you and your linkup. You are such a gracious hostess. Like you, I’m thankful we can go straight to God for comfort and peace, no matter what we are going through or how long it’s taking! Hugs, friend.
Lois, I’m so very sorry for the season you are living through. And yet I can’t help but think this is a sacred season, which bear much fruit in the long run. Like growing tomatoes… it takes patience, tilling the soil occasionally, water, waiting and a bit of fertilizer.🌸🌿
Thank you for your kind words, Lisa. I’ve never grown a tomato myself, but I love the analogy! Hope you are doing well!
Learning how to live fully in the waiting seasons – that can be such a hard place. I am so glad God isn’t a teacher who is impatient with us. He is so patient with me, allowing me to grow and bloom at a pace he designed. It makes me ever so much more eager to be in His presence. It’s hard to get that into muscle memory – trusting in His time and results timeline and not the world. This blessed me today, Lois – to take a breath, slow down, and enjoy God’s company
Oh my goodness, Maryleigh … spending time in God’s presence is such a restorative gift during the waiting seasons, isn’t it? Thanks for your kind words, friend.
This is so wise, Lois (said as someone guilty of feeling like I must figure out “the lesson” in the moment.) Thank you for this, and especially your point that sometimes we don’t notice growth until we’re looking in the rearview mirror. So true!
You and me both about thinking we have to “figure out the lesson in the moment.” I’m so thankful we can let go of that pressure and rest in God’s ability to work in our lives as He sees fit. Hugs, friend.
I am so glad that God even lets us ask the questions of Him. This post surely has made me think since I read it. You raise a most encouraging point – perhaps it isn’t a lesson which needs to be learned. Perhaps it is the next step in becoming more like Him. May we remain malleable in His hands is my prayer this morning. Blessings!
Amen to “remaining malleable in His hands,” Joanne. I’m grateful we can ask God questions too … and comforted that He knows them before we even ask. Hugs, friend.
I also think I have this underlying expectation that as soon as I learn the lesson, God will shorten it. 🙂 But it doesn’t usually work like that. As you said, sometimes we get some insight into why something was allowed years later, but other times we never know. I think of poor Job, who had no idea what was going on behind the scenes that directly related to him. But he had an encounter with God like never before. That doesn’t always happen for us, either, at least not like Job experienced. All we can do is trust step by step.
Amen, Barbara. “Step by step” or “one step at a time” seems to be an ongoing refrain in my life these days.
God doesn’t hand us a syllabus!
That’s so true.
Another image that helps me is timing contractions in the delivery room. Remember how helpful it was to know that you were already a minute or whatever into the contraction because soon it would be over. We don’t get that benefit outside the delivery room.
No, we don’t! He just keeps giving us opportunities to trust when we can’t see the big picture, doesn’t He?
Oh Lois, this both resonates with me and comforts me. During the long and continuing recovery from when I was in the hospital in March, I first asked God why. Then I started asking, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me?” Then I thought God never has to “try” anything. He just does and will teach us. Finally, I tried and still try to remind myself, “I don’t need to understand; I just need to hold Your Hand!” Love this truth – “God knows what we need, and in His sovereignty, He lovingly provides it. Life is one big continuing education session—we’re never really done until God calls us home.” Amen! Thank you, my friend, for strengthening my heart today to rest in His sovereignty!. Love, hugs, and blessings of God’s continuing healing and teaching!
Oh Trudy … I’m so sorry for the medical events that prompted this process in your life, but I’m so glad for God’s continuing comfort and guidance through it. You’re right … we don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand. I’m so thankful for that … and for you, dear friend!
Ah yes, He’s always inviting us to something deeper, stronger, wiser. I’m grateful He sits gently with our questions, uncertainties, fears, and sadnesses.
Me too, Linda. ❤️
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” I must cling to an eternal perspective and God’s loving character in times I don’t understand and trust that His grace is sufficient. I believe He welcomes and understands our wrestling. He even blessed Jacob!
That’s a good point, Debbie. God made us with minds that wrestle through things, didn’t He? And I’m so thankful that His grace is sufficient!