When Life Hits You Sideways

 

When life takes an unexpected turn, it often feels like we’re caught off guard. We hope that the worst things will never happen to us, and when they do, we struggle to respond and hold onto the truths we’ve built our lives on. The Bible makes it clear that God is in control of everything, even our suffering. While it’s hard to understand how a loving God could allow pain, scripture shows us that He is present with us in our struggles.

Sometimes, life feels like a sudden derailment, someone has flipped a switch and our engine is careening down the wrong track with red lights ahead and we find ourselves heading toward disaster. Yet, even in our pain, God promises to be with us. As 1 Peter 5:10 says, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace... will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." God’s Word reminds us that He is good, even in difficult times. Psalm 34:8–10 reassures us: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good... those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." ESV

Although it’s hard to accept, God often uses suffering to teach us and draw us closer to Him. As 2 Corinthians 1:3–6 explains, God comforts us in our pain so we can comfort others. Through suffering, we experience Christ’s comfort and learn to rely on Him. We live in a broken world filled with sin, sickness, and pain. Sometimes we suffer because of our choices, and other times because of God’s purposes for His glory and our good. This isn’t just a shallow saying—it’s an acknowledgment of the deep pain and struggle that comes with life’s hardships.

Suffering connects us to others and to Christ, who knows what it means to endure pain. Hebrews 2:9–11 tells us that Jesus suffered for us, bringing us into God’s family. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we can share our struggles and offer each other hope, knowing our Savior understands. He has been there. God’s presence often becomes most real in the messiness of life, in moments when we feel broken and helpless.  And, we are most able to relate to the messy realities of life—the raw, everyday experiences where God’s presence becomes tangible.

Over the past two days, my husband and I have faced emotional ups and downs while searching for answers about his heart condition. We’ve felt moments of hope, only to be met with setbacks, leaving us humbled and uncertain. Yet, we know this is just one part of God’s bigger story—a story that’s ultimately about His glory, not ours. Even when we don’t understand His plan, we trust that God is ahead of us, working everything out for good.

We will still grieve, feel frustrated, and face disappointment, but deep in our hearts, we have peace. Our God is bigger than anything we can imagine. As Jesus said in John 16:33: "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."  ESV