Experiencing the love of God

One thing we are promised in scripture is that we will go through hard times.

Psalms 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Then, in 2 Timothy 3:12, it states that we will face persecution just for believing in Christ. 

However, even in the hard times there is a promise: “The Lord will deliver you,” as it said in the Psalms. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Now, one could say this refers to hope for eternity in heaven, however, I believe it is more than that. I have had no shortage of suffering in my life, I have lost loved ones, struggled in addiction, been homeless, been at death's door more than once — a few times by my own hands.

Before I was a follower of Christ, these sufferings only brought on more suffering. I couldn't see nor understand love in any capacity, and in such I did not love anyone except my own desires.

Then, on what I thought was my darkest day, God revealed Himself to me (not enough time to go into that fully) and I was fully changed. I looked back at all my struggles and saw how close He truly was. The hardships in my past prepared me for my destiny and made me grow to be what I am today. I saw His love and it forever changed me. 

As believers, when the struggles keep coming, we may lose heart, weep, get hurt. However, we can now find joy in the pain. As James 1: 2-4 points out, it is in the sufferings that our faith is made strong to where we can endure.

I now see His unconditional love, because I have experienced it, in my struggles it was made clear, and in that I now have hope.

Just because you are going through something hard does not mean God has given up on you, nor does He love you any less. He sees what is coming, has prepared you, and will continue to prepare you. After all, you are still here. He isn't finished with you.

Pastor Scott Acklin ministers at New Fire Ministries.