When Life is Hard, God Speaks

I’ve been in great need of God’s Word these past few days. Not that I needed His Word any less in the days, weeks, and months before, but in particular His promises have been life and breath to me in the past 48 hours. When you find yourself in a difficult place, when life gets hard, where to you turn? Whom do you run to? When all seems well and life appears to be without thorns and thistles, our perceived need for God withers, does it not? When we’re not desperate, we cry out less. It’s in those seasons of blessing that God often whispers into our hearts, and all the good and the blessings tune out the faint sound of His voice. Perhaps you’ve heard this suggested to you before, but I believe it to be true with all of my heart – God shouts in our pain. It’s not as if He hasn’t been by our side all along speaking to our hearts, but I believe He uses the difficulty of life to increase our awareness of our need for Him. When life gets hard, God speaks into the pain. He speaks into the hurt. He speaks into the confusion. He speaks into the despair. Are you listening?

God speaks to us through His Word. He reveals His heart, His character, and His promises to us throughout the pages of Scripture. I find great comfort in meditating on His Word, and I receive a peace that cannot be attained elsewhere…

“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50

God speaks tender words of love over us as His children through the truth found in His Word. His promises are true. You won’t find empty promises in Scripture. He fulfills every promise that He makes. There is none like Him.

“Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.” Psalm 119:89-90

When life gets hard, we tend to remember the joy found in God’s green pastures, so we come running, in need of what we know can only be found in Him. We recall His goodness and the sweetness of His presence, and we long to be found there again. We must get to the place where that longing remains, even when life is good. Because even though our circumstances shift and change like the waves of the sea, God remains the same. He’s always good. His presence is always sweet. His love never fails. Would we but remember that, our paths would be far less crooked.

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” Psalm 119:103-104

God speaks as our defender when all else condemns and accuses us. He is our rock and our shield, a defense against our enemies that would pursue us and seek to destroy us. Hope can be found! Hope can be had! A shelter from the storm, this is our God.

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your Word.” Psalm 119:114

When life is hard, God speaks. Are you listening? Do you cling to His Word, knowing that the truth within will set you free? Are you crying out to Him, seeking Him in your pain? On whom is your focus? Only the LORD can bring the quiet and still to your storm.

“I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your Word.” Psalm 119: 145-147