In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God

1. Suffering reveals God's fierce tenderness and transforms us

Because I don't naturally have the capacity or skills to suffer well (in fact, I'm a sad, whiny, worrisome sufferer on my own), I've learned I need help along this journey, and lots of it.

God's presence in suffering. When we face trials, God doesn't ask us to pretend we're not in pain. Instead, He joins us in our struggles, demonstrating His fierce tenderness. This divine companionship transforms our suffering from mere hardship into an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God.

Personal transformation. Through suffering, we often discover strength and resilience we didn't know we possessed. As we lean on God's help, we develop:

• Greater empathy for others
• Increased patience and perseverance
• A more profound understanding of God's love
• Refined character and spiritual maturity

2. Remembering God's faithfulness strengthens us in trials

Jeremiah did something astonishingly simple yet powerfully effectual in the midst of his suffering: he remembered.

Power of remembrance. When facing difficulties, recalling past instances of God's faithfulness can provide comfort and renewed hope. This practice:

• Reinforces our trust in God's character
• Reminds us of His consistent love and care
• Provides perspective on current challenges

Practical application. To cultivate this habit:

• Keep a journal of answered prayers
• Share testimonies of God's faithfulness with others
• Meditate on Scripture passages that highlight God's past acts of deliverance

3. Gratitude shifts our perspective in the midst of pain

Thanksgiving is the way we enter into and experience His presence.

Transformative power of gratitude. Choosing thankfulness in difficult circumstances can radically alter our outlook. Gratitude:

• Redirects our focus from problems to blessings
• Opens our eyes to God's ongoing work in our lives
• Cultivates a sense of contentment and peace

Cultivating thankfulness. Practical ways to develop a grateful heart:

• Start a daily gratitude journal
• Practice expressing thanks in prayer, even for small mercies
• Share your blessings with others, fostering a community of gratitude

4. Crying out to God connects us to His comfort and presence

In all our suffering, He suffers too.

Divine empathy. God deeply understands and shares in our pain. When we cry out to Him, we:

• Experience His comforting presence
• Find strength to endure our trials
• Deepen our relationship with Him

Honest communication with God. We are encouraged to:

• Express our raw emotions to God without fear
• Use the Psalms as a guide for pouring out our hearts
• Trust that God can handle our doubts, fears, and frustrations

5. Forgiveness frees us from bitterness in our suffering

We can let others off the hook because we have been let off the hook—and because God is the truest friend, the greatest comforter, and the sweetest presence.

Liberation through forgiveness. Choosing to forgive those who have hurt us, especially during times of suffering:

• Releases us from the burden of bitterness
• Opens our hearts to receive God's healing
• Allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and grace

Steps toward forgiveness:

• Acknowledge the pain and hurt
• Choose to release the offender, even if they don't deserve it
• Ask God for the strength to forgive
• Focus on God's forgiveness of our own sins

6. Letting go of control allows us to embrace God's purpose

Ultimately, no one needs me—but they do need God. And He will be to them what I cannot be.

Surrendering control. Recognizing our limitations and letting go of the need to control outcomes:

• Reduces anxiety and stress
• Allows us to trust in God's sovereign plan
• Frees us to focus on what truly matters

Embracing God's purpose. When we release control:

• We become more open to God's leading
• We can better discern His will for our lives
• We experience peace in knowing He is in charge

7. Hope in God sustains us through life's darkest valleys

God doesn't just give me hope—He is my Hope.

God as our ultimate hope. Anchoring our hope in God Himself, rather than in changing circumstances:

• Provides unshakeable stability in turbulent times
• Offers comfort beyond what the world can give
• Instills courage to face seemingly insurmountable challenges

Cultivating hope. Practical ways to nurture hope:

• Meditate on God's promises in Scripture
• Surround yourself with encouraging believers
• Look for signs of God's faithfulness in daily life

8. Laughter and joy can coexist with sorrow

Suffering with Jesus has seasoned my laughter and grown it large with hope and freedom and peace I didn't have twenty years ago.

Joy amidst suffering. Understanding that joy and sorrow are not mutually exclusive:

• Allows us to experience the fullness of life, even in pain
• Reflects the complex nature of the Christian experience
• Testifies to the world of God's sustaining grace

Cultivating joy. Practical steps to embrace joy in difficult times:

• Practice gratitude for small blessings
• Seek out uplifting community and relationships
• Engage in activities that bring genuine pleasure and laughter

9. Weakness becomes strength when we depend on Christ

I'm absolutely the weakest person I know, and I could produce plenty of proof to convince you of it. But I've spent so many years leaning hard into God's power (asking Him to be for me what I cannot be for myself) that to the untrained eye His strength in me can be mistaken for my own.

Strength in weakness. Embracing our limitations and vulnerabilities:

• Opens us to experience God's power more fully
• Cultivates humility and dependence on Christ
• Allows God's strength to be displayed in our lives

Practical dependence on Christ:

• Regularly acknowledge your need for God's help
• Pray for His strength in specific areas of weakness
• Share your struggles with trusted believers for support and prayer

10. Eternal perspective gives meaning to temporary affliction

Heaven works backward. And one day soon it will turn all this momentary agony into infinite glory.

Eternal outlook. Viewing our current struggles through the lens of eternity:

• Provides hope and endurance in difficult times
• Helps us prioritize what truly matters
• Reminds us of the temporary nature of earthly suffering

Cultivating an eternal perspective:

• Regularly meditate on Scripture passages about heaven and eternity
• Discuss eternal realities with fellow believers
• Evaluate decisions and priorities in light of their eternal significance

Last updated: August 8, 2024