Mrs Misty Beutow
Pastor's Wife
Grace Baptist Church
Tremont, IL
Without the Process there is No Glory
Have you ever struggled? I mean really struggled? With your faith? With anxiety? With fear? I have recently been there. It sounds terrible, I know. How could I doubt God? How could I live with anxiety and fear? God has been so good to my family. I am blessed with a wonderful husband. We have three beautiful children. We are part of a thriving ministry. I have been blessed to stay home with my children and homeschool them. So how could I, pastors wife and home school mom, struggle with fear and doubt?
10 years ago I noticed that my daughter was acting odd. She would grab her stomach and then suddenly become unresponsive. It was so strange. My sister was with us during one of these episodes. She told me she was having a seizure. That didn't make sense. Don't people shake uncontrollably when that happens? Not all do. There are many types of seizures. She would have nearly 30 of these seizures a week and when she was 3 years old she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Fast forward 9 years. She is 12. She is beautiful. She is talented. She loves the Lord. She is caring. She is absolutely amazing. We had just come from another neurology appointment where the neurologist told her she had refractory epilepsy. Which means no matter what medication, diet or treatment we try she will not get better. She will most likely have it the rest of her life. That was hard for her to take in. Almost a teenager. Thinking of driving, babysitting, and other exciting things teen girls look forward to. But she knows she may never have those opportunities. As we were driving home I asked how she felt about it. She said, "Mom, why hasn't God healed me? I pray everyday that He will. I don't understand why He won't." My heart sunk. I didn't know what to say. How do you respond when you yourself do not know the answer? I looked at her and told her that I honestly do not know. That God has a plan for her and that even though we can't see what it is now, we must trust Him. But honestly, in my own heart I struggled. I doubted. I had fear. I was angry. I was hurting for her.
The following Sunday my husband preached a tremendous message on Elijah and the power of prayer. I knew it was just for me! I know I needed to hear it. But you know what? Even though I agreed with everything he preached, I was still struggling. I pray. I pray the way that God would have me to pray. I follow Gods plan for prayer. I am doing what God wants me to do. So, why? Why will He not answer our prayers? Why will He not heal my daughter?
After the service I was confiding in a dear friend about my feelings and her words have stuck with me. Without the process there is no glory. What a powerful thought! Everything that we go through, we go through for God to be glorified. Even the hurts, the struggles, the fears. Each process that we are facing, can be used to bring honor and glory to our Heavenly Father. She reminded me of the people that we have been able to help and encourage. The souls that have come to Christ. Those that were away from the Lord that have returned. Not because of who we are, but because of what He has done. The goodness of God brings man to repentance. And through this process they have seen the goodness and kindness of our Lord.
I don't know what you are facing. I don't know what process God has allowed in your life. But can I encourage you to not give up? To keep trusting? To keep going through the process, even when it hurts, so that God may be glorified. A few last thoughts to encourage you on your journey;
1. Rest in Him
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Are you weary? Are you carrying your process alone? Make sure to give it to God and allow Him to bring you rest. All too often we try to figure things out in our own strength. Stop trying to figure it out and just find rest in Christ.
2. Have faith when you don't understand
Luke 5:4-6 "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their nets brake."
God wants us to put our faith into action. When it's hard. When it doesn't make sense. When it doesn't add up. Faith puts out the fiery darts of fear. Once you start trusting and placing your faith in Gods plan, the fears and doubts begin to disappear. And He will do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think.
3. Without the process there is no glory.
2 Peter 2:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy”
We need to go through the trials with an active faith. Knowing and trusting that God will be honored and glorified through it. Allow Gods glory to be revealed through your trial. He will bring joy and peace through it. God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us. And He takes us through a process that He has allowed so that His plan and His purpose may be fulfilled.
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