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How God uses difficult seasons
In theory, we know that the people of God will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). But sometimes the hard times last much longer than expected. Sometimes they even seem to become the new normal. In those situations, it’s more important than ever for the church to hold onto hope (Romans 15:13). We know that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28) and that God is always up to something. We can, and should, be thankful always, for everything (Ephesians 5:20), in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It might not always be obvious what God is doing, but here are some ways he can use difficult seasons to bless your church and make it stronger.
Revealing Idols
Hard times tend to prune away distractions, exposing the worldly things that we put our trust in—things like financial stability, admirable leaders, and a sense of certainty about what the future holds—as the illusions that they are (James 4:13-16). Though it’s painful to have things that bring us comfort stripped away, it’s ultimately a good thing. People are reminded of the only true source of lasting comfort. We’re pointed to a better world beyond this one. People become more open to conversations about eternal life and more willing to reevaluate where they place their trust. We must simply be faithful and not waste the opportunities that are handed to us.
When has God used a season of suffering to uncover an idol in your own life?
They Form Leaders
For church leaders, challenging times serve as our own personal “stress test.” We can see where there are cracks or gaps in our leadership, giving us clarity on what we need to work on. Tough seasons can also give you clarity on who your leaders really are. Many people in your church may have the willingness and ability to step up and make a difference, but haven’t yet been stirred by apparent need. When hard times come, pay attention to the people who show up, roll with unexpected challenges, and commit when it’s costly.
Which fellow laborers in the church stand out to you as exemplary leaders? Ask one about the hard times God used to form their faith.
They Force You to Reevaluate
When times are easy and everything is humming along, we tend to keep doing things the same way we’ve been doing them. It’s hard to justify disrupting the status quo when there seem to be more pressing issues. But when things are broken, it forces you to change how you do things, at least for a season. That disruption gives church leaders the time and motivation to reevaluate how things are done. Maybe this means a staff member filling a role that’s new to them, or moving to a different number of services or different meeting times, or rebranding. Instead of spending a lot of time and resources on massive changes that may or may not be successful, you can spend just a little bit to temporarily experiment with the idea first. If it works, you can expand on the idea and make the change permanent. If it fails, you’ve learned what doesn’t work, which is itself a valuable lesson and worth the small investment.
What things do you need to start doing, stop doing, or keep doing? What smart, small risks could you take?
They Prepare the Church for the Future
As Christians, we’ve read the end of the book and know that victory is ultimately assured. But first we will face persecution and trials from an increasingly hostile world. When the way of life we’ve always known begins to crumble, we should not be surprised or unprepared. So if your church is facing opposition, division, or uncertainty, remember that this is a testing ground that prepares you to weather future storms that will be even bigger. Don't lose heart; continue being the church for each other no matter what happens.
What should you be doing now to prepare your church for the future?
Adversity Refined Endurance and Peace
"Hard times create strong men”--and strong churches. We can be thankful for trials because we know the good God who is using them to refine and strengthen us (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3). Regardless of what kind of difficult times you find yourself in, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Pray and have peace (Philippians 4:6-7) knowing that God is still on His throne.
