How can we trust God when life seems to be spinning out of control?  What is it that is sending you or someone close to you into a frump? 

Pastors and chaplains are often called upon to enter situations that seemingly are uncontrollable.  A rebellious teenager, a pending divorce, a financial collapse, and an unexpected death can ignite feelings of uncertainty and despair.

I remember well the emotional issues I faced as a chaplain after the devastation and heartbreak associated with the 2005 Katrina hurricane that hit Louisiana and surrounding states.  Most recently, while serving as a volunteer chaplain with the Post Falls Police Department I was called in to provide chaplain services to an expected death of a 47 year-old man.  Both of these situations called for me to interact with un-believing people who found their world spinning out of control.

It is one of the most unfortunate moments a Christian can experience to see people who don’t know Jesus trying to cope with the challenges life brings.  It is gut-wrenching and heart-breaking to see people whose perspective and attitudes demonstrate “no hope”.  For the believing person, we only have to remember Hebrews 11 or our own testimonies of how God provided during our trials and tribulations to remember how His faithfulness abides with those who believe.

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that when we allow ourselves to see things through God’s perspective we become stronger in our trust and more secure in our faith, "This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves." They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness— a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’" Jer. 2:5-6

I’m reminded of the story about Horacio Spafford, one of our all-time great hymn writers. In 1871 Horacio’s real estate business caught fire and was destroyed before neighbors and firefighters could get organized to fight the fire.  A few short months later he lost his only son.

However despite his loss, Pastor Spafford felt a call to minister in Europe.  He had planned to take the trip with his family but at the last minute had to attend to some important business.  He sent his family ahead of him on a ship to Europe thinking he would catch up with them in a week. A few days later the ship in which his wife and four daughters were travelling collided with another ship in the middle of the Atlantic and sank.  His four daughters from 11 to 2 years all drowned in the tragedy; only his wife survived the ordeal.  When she was taken to a European land she sent Spafford a telegram with just two words, “Saved Alone”.

A few weeks later on his way to France to meet his grieving wife, the captain of Horacio’s ship showed him where his family’s ship sank.  Standing on the bridge of the ship weeping and contemplating the loss of his precious daughters, he was moved with words from deep within. Returning to his cabin he wrote the poetic words of this heartfelt song, "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll, whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, It is well with my soul." This hymn of faith in the midst of tragedy has ministered to untold millions who have suffered in this life.

When hard times come, remember that there could be four reasons for the intrusion on your life:

• A Test?  James 1:3
• An Opportunity?  Gal. 6:10
  
• Discipline for rebellion? Numbers 14:18 (NIV)
• A blessing? Psalm 2:12

When we see life from God’s perspective we can also claim, “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”.