In the middle of your trial, He’s leading you right.

Friends, so often I wish you could sit with me at my kitchen table, and discuss the things you inbox me about. It’s hard to cover sensitive topics publicly because I never know who is reading here.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a Christian, and that means that in all of the aspects of my life–from marriage to motherhood, homeschooling, hospitality, ministry, blogging, crafting, or home decor, friendship, trials–my thoughts and actions will be informed and influenced by the Bible. As a believer in Christ, and as a debtor to His grace, my life is actually His to use as He sees fit. So if you read here and wonder, “Where is this lady coming from!?”–that’s where.

I want you to think of this space as a seat at my kitchen table, and this blog, as the conversation I am having in real life with my friends, and am also I’m sharing with you. So often, I’ve had conversations for weeks about the topics I post here before I’ve ever blogged about them. That way you get the benefit of more perspectives than my own as I process what my friends have poured into my life as well.

If you were here today, I’d pour you a little cup of something warm and invite you to share what you are learning in your walk with Christ. We’d discuss good books. I’d ask how God has been good to you because I want to be reminded of His faithfulness. I’d ask what He is teaching you as you live your life as a woman who is following hard after God. I’d ask how I can best pray for you. We’d have some good laughs because I love to laugh.

Friendship among women is one of the sweetest gifts of this life, and I’m always thankful when I can enjoy time with one of my iron-sharpening-iron friends.

One of the greatest benefits of friendship is to remind ourselves of the truth of scripture because we so easily forget in the middle of trials or the hustle of life.

I want to remind you of a simple truth today because it’s on my heart and has been very much on yours as you message me and share trials caused by other people’s sin.

I know it sounds trite but it’s this: God is sovereign and He is good.

Can I explain this? No. But I trust God’s Word and know it to be true.

God is in control of your situation today and the sin caused by another person against you cannot destroy your life or knock you off course.

That person who tries to tear you down? The person who stands in your way and tries to block your progress? The friend who betrays you? The husband who leaves you?  Maybe, as a result of their action,  they are actually propelling you to the place God wants you to be, despite it all? To the ministry, the job, the friends, that you wouldn’t have chosen otherwise?

When the hurt is raw, we kick against this reasoning. We can’t imagine that God would allow hurt to come to us, though we see that God allowed for His own only begotten and beloved Son to be killed for our good and His eternal plan. Our minds struggle with this.

But when you are powerless over the actions of others, God is still looking out for you and working all things together for your good, as a woman who loves God.

I think of God’s intervening work in the life of Sarah of Genesis 20, after what must have been a gut-wrenching betrayal when her  “Mr. Wonderful”,  Abraham, told her to lie to the King and say that she was his sister instead of his wife, so he wouldn’t be killed as they entered a new area. What a guy, huh?

Of course, King Abimelech saw how beautiful she was and took her to be his wife. The Lord was not impressed, and tells Abimelech in a dream that he is a “dead man” if he touches Sarah who is already someone else wife.

I don’t know about you, but I giggle thinking of how cold the air must have been as Abraham came to retrieve his wife from Abimelech’s house. What a quiet ride home. I can just envision the side glances now.

These stories also make me cringe, and the injustice of it all makes me crazy, but I can tell you this: God protected Sarah because SHE was going to be the mother of the children of Israel. Nothing could thwart that plan. Not a sinful, selfish husband, not barrenness, not old age.

Nobody is big enough to thwart God’s plan for your life.

You are where you are supposed to be and you have exactly the sphere of influence you are intended to have today– maybe because someone did sin against you.

Someone in your new “normal” needs to hear of God’s love and His working in your life.

If you’ve been pushed out by sinful church politics, or demoted due to workplace back-stabbing, or isolated due to jealous cliques, or a million other scenarios we could give in this fallen world, God is still God and  He is still on the throne.

Even if you can’t figure out WHY, take comfort that your good God is not unaware or asleep.

Perhaps he has moved you for a reason. Perhaps your new normal is a sphere where many others need to know of His love? Perhaps he is moving you to show and shine His grace in your life more brilliantly?

It may not be the life you dreamed about, but whatever they’ve meant for evil, God is using for your good.

I’ve seen this in my own life over and over again, and I’ve learned that when people act poorly, that God is showing me the path He wants me to take.

There are times when you have to break rank with people who are doing the wrong thing, and it causes waves but you know what, friend, you have to choose to do right, no matter what he political, denominational, or familial relationship. God wants his people to do right and stand up for what is right.

Oh, someone may try to stop your progress or try to squelch your influence, but maybe God is leading you to another path or area of focus.

When people sin against you, do right. Use the means you have at your disposal, yes. (especially the law which is there for our protection and for justice.)

Don’t try to take vengeance or figure out all the answers.

Put your energy into spiritual work. Wait on Him, concern yourself with His glory in the middle of your trial, and keep an eye on your heart and motives, to make sure they are obedient to God’s word.

In the middle of your trial, He’s leading you right, I promise.