God’s Way is Through
Dr. Michelle Bengtson
She lives to break the grip of anxiety and fear, foster regeneration, and renew life in her readers and listeners.
When was the last time you faced one of life’s storms? Maybe you’re in the midst of one now. I must admit, at times it feels like one tsunami after another has hit our family over the last few years. As I’ve spent some time pondering some of the recent storms of life, I’ve learned a few lessons, including the fact that we are meant to go through the storms of life—not camp out there.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT).
Go Through Grief
In 2019, nineteen friends and family members died, mostly from cancer. No sooner would I find out about someone’s new diagnosis, and then I’d hear of the death of someone else I loved, cared for, and had been praying for. I believed (and still believe) God can and does heal, and yet my heart ached for the earthly losses of each friend and family member who wasn’t healed on this earth, but now lived healed and whole with Him. Grief set in, and each new death seemed to compound the grief I already felt. I found comfort in the Scriptures that reminded me that “Jesus wept.” So I knew He didn’t condemn my grief, but instead allowed it. Yet I also knew He didn’t want me to stay in a permanent state of grief, but rather to journey through it with Him.
His way is through.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you…
Go Through Cancer
My husband has been diagnosed with three different types of cancer, and I’ve received a cancer diagnosis twice. Each time it has been a journey, reaching for the hem of his garment, waiting on God’s will and God’s way. God never intended for sickness and infirmity to be a way of life, but He has allowed us to go through it, trusting Him to see us through it. There were so many times during each diagnosis and subsequent treatment when I thought for certain one or both of us might drown in the rivers of difficulty, and yet I knew He was in the rivers with us.
His way is through.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown…
Go Through Miscarriage
“I’m so sorry. I can’t find a heartbeat. We’ve lost the pregnancy.” I sat stunned, as the doctor delivered the words that I could not have been more shocked to hear. I had just felt the baby kick the day before. And I had been giddy with excitement over nursery plans and picking out baby names. This baby was a gift from God, until it wasn’t. “How could this happen?” I wondered. I was healthy, and I had “done everything right.” Grief was real, and God was allowing me to feel it. Even though He didn’t intend for me to stay there, it was something I needed to go through.
His way is through.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you…
Go Through Depression
Having treated thousands of patients in my career, no one was more surprised when I journeyed through my own valley of depression into the dark night of my soul. I’ll never forget crying out to God, and honestly sharing that if that was going to be my lot in life, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue living. Fortunately for me, He was patient and gentle as He revealed that that was not His intention. Instead, He wanted to bring me through depression so I could share hope to others who suffered.
His way is through.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
Go Through Job Loss
I’ll never forget the day my husband walked through the door in the middle of the day, and shared he had been laid off from his job. We had young children, a mortgage to pay, school loans to repay. We didn’t know what God’s plan was, but we trusted that this turn of events didn’t take Him by surprise, and He knew how He would see us through it. It was a season we had to travel through until we were on the other side, just like the disciples in the storm on the lake with Jesus (see Luke 8:22-25).
His way is through.
As our family has journeyed through many of life’s storms, I’ve learned a few things:
We are meant to go through the storms of life—not camp out there permanently. His way is through. (Isaiah 43:2-3a)
When Jesus told the disciples “let us go over to the other side of the lake,” He knew they would get there, but they forgot that promise when the storms arose. (Luke 8:22-25) We must hold onto God’s hand and His promises when the storms of life arise.
Even when we must go through the storms of life, God never leaves us to go through them alone. “I will never leave you or abandon you” (Isaiah 43:2).
Storms may bring pain, doubt, or discouragement, yet He offers to be our comforter through the storms. (Psalm 23:4).
Regardless of what the storm is, we don’t have to have all the answers, we only need to turn to the One who does. “For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).
Friend, I don’t know what storm you’ve either just come through or are walking in now: maybe a strained marriage, a prodigal child, financial crisis, poor health prognosis, or something else, but I do know you don’t walk alone, and God will see you through.
Did you enjoy this post from Dr. Michelle Bengtson? Check out her latest book, The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms. I know it will be an encouragement to you or someone you love.
Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, or unexpected and unwanted change. Often it is temporary. But what do you do when it isn't? When the pain just won't go away, when healing does not come, when the grief and hurt settle in?
Drawing on her own experience of chronic pain and her years as a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson provides a countercultural perspective on pain. Offering hope without any false promises or empty platitudes, Dr. Bengtson unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your perception based on the truth of God's Word. Each chapter ends with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer.
Your pain may not change, but your experience of it can.