Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them (Psalm 139:16).

Have you ever faced a trial and thought, “This is because I have not done enough for God.” You’re not alone. My missionary friend, Richard, confessed to having the same thoughts when his child was born with multiple medical concerns. 

Richard wrote of how every medical setback led to him and his wife wondering whether their righteousness and repentance were enough. The questioning was leading the parents into a dangerous quandary of wondering whether to blame themselves or God for their child’s struggles. 

Then the Lord turned their hearts back to the truth of the gospel: We will never be right with God by depending on what we do, but by trusting in what Jesus has done for us. When we trust in the sufficiency of Christ’s work on our behalf, then we need not doubt him or blame one another for the troubles of a fallen world. 

We trust the Good Shepherd to carry us through dark valleys of this world because he has proven his care, giving us access to it by his cross. Now nothing enters lives hedged about by the grace of Christ except what is eternally best for us and our families. 

We don’t trust our goodness to insulate us against all earthly trials, we trust the goodness of Jesus to take us through them to himself. 

Prayer:
Father, I know we live in a fallen world that you will someday make right. Through the grace unquestionably revealed at the cross, teach me to trust your sovereign love through inevitable trials until Jesus comes or takes me home!