Where Will You Turn?

When tragedy strikes—and it is not a matter of if, but when—it will have one of two effects in our lives. Either we will have our faith strengthened, and we will turn to God for comfort, or we will become angry at God and turn away from Him.

Hardships in life either will make you better or bitter. You decide which one it will be, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. It is when a crisis hits that we see what a man or woman is really made of. In the case of Job, we see him being exactly how God said he was: “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).

Some people have told me they thought I have much faith in the way I have trusted God through my son’s departure to Heaven. But I call it common sense. Where else am I going to turn? I am going to turn to the One who actually can support me at a time like this, the One who promised to give me what I need.

The Bible records a time when many people turned away from following Jesus. So Jesus turned to the disciples and asked, “Do you also want to go away?”

Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life . . .” (John 6:68). Loosely paraphrased: “Lord we don’t always get You. But this much we know. You are the One, and we will keep following You.”

This is one of the good things that can come out of crisis and suffering. You turn to God with dependence like you have never had before. Faith will not grow through ease and comfort; it will grow through challenge and difficulty.