We spend our whole life preparing for the expected. When we are young, we expect to go to school and get educated. As we get older, we expect to get a job and become independent. As we grow older, we expect to mature and become more financially stable. As we get up in age, we expect to take it easy and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Then one day, in the far distant future, we expect to die. All of these expectations are normal. But does anything feel normal anymore? We seem to be experiencing more of the unexpected than the expected. So how do we endure or survive the unexpected? We must control what we have control over and the rest we give to God. We can never stop believing that God is on the throne, God has a plan, and God never stops loving us in all circumstances. Romans 8:35–37 (NLT) says, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Think of what Paul was going through when he wrote this. He literally suffered and had to endure tragedy, oppression, starvation, deprivation, impending danger, and the threat of death. In Matthew 10:22 (NLT) Jesus says, “And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” The use of the word endures refers to the expectation of challenge, even survival. Is there anyone who doesn’t feel like life is becoming more of a challenge?
Despite our belief in God and our relationship with Christ, the great choices we make, what we do right or wrong, there will be seasons in our life. The seasons refer to every aspect of our lives, the ups and downs, the good, the bad, and the ugly. During the challenging times, we might need to depend on others. Who can you depend on, your family, your friends, your church family, or your neighbors? Although it’s nice to have people you can depend on, when it comes down to faithful dependence in all circumstances, it comes down to God. How about you? During the challenging seasons, can you depend on yourself to step up and stay strong? Once we learn to endure and rise above our challenges, we need to help those who are still in need. We must truly come together as the church. Not a building, but collectively as a people, believers in Christ. Sometimes this becomes most apparent in acts of kindness from strangers. This is how we endure and survive the unexpected.
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