Rogue Waves #6

So far in this series we’ve learned that everyone – including you and me – are hit by Rogue Waves. Some how … some way … some day … something bad will happen in your life. It might be a health issue, a financial reversal, a relational breakup, a career mishap, or any one of a thousand other things. If you haven’t been hit by bad news yet – totally out of the blue,  you will eventually.

Why does God allow these events to happen? First, God uses hard times to develop our character and make us more like Jesus Christ. Second, a painful event develops within us greater sensitivity to others going through the same thing. We comfort them with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Finally, it’s often through the most painful experiences of life that we find our life purpose. Like a magnet, we are drawn to people who are hurting like we hurt, and we want to help them cope with their difficulties.

Through God’s grace alone, I’ve survived many Rogue Waves – especially over the past 7 years. In the next few posts I want to share what I’ve learned about surviving Rogue Waves. In this post I’ll summarize the three things I’ve learned. Then I’ll unpack these truths one at a time in the next 3 posts.

First, I’ve learned that tears bring healing. Everyone grieves in his or her own way. Some spend all day – every day – doing nothing but crying. And that’s OK. When the tears come, let them fall. Don’t try to stop them, no matter where you are or how embarrassing it seems. Let them fall. It’s God’s way of releasing the pain trapped within you, and replacing it with his love for you.

The second thing I’ve learned is to ask the right question. When the Rogue Wave hits there’s no point in asking God “why, why, why?” If you do, you’ll never heal … because there’s no answer to that question. Instead of asking “why,” start asking God, “What now?” Ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do, now that the Rogue Wave has hit?” Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Do you believe it? Until you do, you will not heal.

The final thing I’ve learned is that faith is a choice. You can either choose to wallow in self-pity … or … you can choose to have faith in God. For a long time I chose self pity. “Oh, woe is me. How could you do this to me, God?” But there’s no way you’ll heal until you choose to have faith in God.

When the Rogue Wave hits – and it will – don’t push it aside. Don’t pretend it didn’t happen. Instead, be sure to grieve – to really grieve the loss. And please remember the three lessons I have learned: 1) Tears bring healing – so cry; 2) Ask the right question – so ask); and Faith is a choice – so choose.