You look around church and see people living their breakthrough.
One guy lands his dream job three weeks after a layoff.
A couple finally conceives after years of infertility.
Another finds the perfect starter home after a long wait.
Someone’s medical scans come back clean—no explanation.
And then there’s you.
Things have not gone your way in a while.
Maybe you had your “God story” some time ago, if you could only remember what it was.
You have bills that keep piling up.
Your job (if you are fortunate enough to have only one) leaves a bit to be desired.
In all, you feel like a spectator. Great things are happening for others, but not for you.
Maybe you are truly happy for them. Maybe you are secretly jealous, envying the success of others while more obstacles pile in your way.
It is easy to get disillusioned. Why is God not doing a thing for you?
You search for answers.
You read that you don’t have enough faith.
You hear a sermon that says you don’t tithe enough.
Someone shares how God finally moved when she forgave someone—and you realize you haven’t.
Every answer you find is another way you’ve failed.
In these seasons where you need God to come through, how does He benefit from being silent to your prayers and pleading? Sure, some would say God is trying to make you stronger, but what happens if this strength training breaks you in half?
After months or years of feeling like life is passing you by, things will not get better, and Christianity holds no answers, you begin to wonder if God is real, after all.
What good is believing in God if all He does is sit on the sidelines of your life, not helping you at all?
There is a common sentiment in Christianity that “God will only give you what you can handle.” This hasn’t been my experience. God “gave” me way more than I could handle, drove me beyond the breaking point to where my mind split. I can’t fathom a God who would “give” me this much hardship.
I did, however, find my way back.
I don’t attribute the hardships of the last 20 years to things God inflicted upon me. We live in a broken world, and bad things happen to good people. It rains on the just and the unjust. That is as far as I will take it.
When bad things happen, the Enemy is there constantly putting his spin on things.
I do believe God rescued me, pulled me back from the abyss. He seems to be in that kind of business, after all — rescuing people. He allowed me to see the sizable role the enemy has played in my life and how I can fight it.
I believe this kind of rescue is available for you, too.
You don’t have to live confused and crushed.
You can begin to see where God is growing you, where life is just broken, and where the enemy’s been wreaking havoc.
If that’s what you want—clarity, not clichés—you’re not alone. I’m walking that road too.