"Consider it all joy."
Not exactly an easy thing to do. 'My life sucks! Praise God!' Okay, my life doesn't suck. That's a lie. What does suck, though, is all of this crap the church is going through right now. People are leaving right and left, and based on what? The decision of one family to leave our church? There is no doubt in my mind that they prayed over their decision and sought counsel before leaving. This was a decision that was a long time coming. But those who have followed? I honestly wonder how many of them have really prayed over it. I am fully aware that that is between each individual and God and that is none of my business.
It just hurts to see all of these people go. I'm not all that close to all but a few, but the ones I was close to, I feel like my heart is breaking. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, you know? I've seen it happen so many times in the past 10 years. Get close to someone, and they leave. I know it's nothing I've done, and there's nothing I could have done to stop it, but it doesn't change the fact that it tears my heart into a million pieces. How am I supposed to find joy here?
I know that God has a plan and reason for all of this. That's about the only thing I can hold on to right now, because I just can't make sense of any of this. I know that those of us who are left are supposed to keep pressing onward, but it's so hard when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. When does it end? God, haven't you whittled our numbers down enough? How many more will you take?
Yet, I firmly believe that God is going to do a miraculous work though those of us who decide to stick it out. It's going to take time and it may seem impossible from where I sit, but He is God of the impossible. And I'm excited to see what's waiting for us on the other side of all of this.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:3-7
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