Find Spiritual Growth with Us (13)

Picking Up the Pieces after Being Tested

My car slid across the intersection and started spinning like a top.  It was like a scene from a movie where cars were either power sliding or drifting.  Time suspended; a whirl of white snow scattered.  Then I hit the curb.

It was a long time ago—my first encounter with driving in the snow.  Being an inexperienced driver in the snow, I let my instincts take over—jamming the brakes, jerking the wheel.

It was the exact opposite of what I should have done: foot off the gas, steer into the slide.  And, most importantly, no brakes.

That’s an analogy here for us amid personal struggles, job challenges, relationship dilemmas, spiritual battles—and everything else we don’t anticipate.  At the same time, the world keeps sending so much change our way—seemingly with no breaks.

The problem is that, whenever something unexpected happens and we feel overwhelmed, human nature tends to go to the extremes—overreacting, overcorrecting, oversteering.

So how do we pick up the pieces when our life spins out of control?  

What is the point behind the tests that we face in life?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.   But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4)

God tests our faith to help us see our weaknesses.  Without tests, we can’t see it and if we can’t see our weaknesses then we can’t grow.  Testing of faith produces steadfastness.  Tests forces us to change and to produce something we didn’t have before.  When we pass the test, we become perfect.

God’s test reveals what’s most important in our heart.  Is our job or career more important than God?  Being laid off or facing the fear of losing a job is a common threat especially for older workers.  It is reasonable to pray hard to God for another job.  It is a test of our faith to rely on Him.  But the test does not end when we get the job we prayed for.  Just like Abraham was tested when God asked Abraham to sacrifice the only son whom he loved, that God gave him when he was 100 years old.  

Are we willing to sacrifice the time, relationship, prospects of promotion tied to our career for the sake of obeying God and putting Him first?  Can we overcome the temptations of success in our career?

God trusted God when He promised Abraham that many nations would be born from his beloved son.

If our answer is no, then more tests will keep coming until we get it.  If our answer is yes, then we will see His provisions.

“And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together.’ (Genesis 22:8)

“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided.”  (Genesis 22:13-14)

The Lord has already provided for us!  God wants to test to see if we fear Him and put Him first in our life.  We must give our best to God, not the leftovers.

God can give, take away and give it back.  

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”  (Hebrews 11:17-19)

How do we pick up the Pieces?

To heal and recover, we need to believe in His promises, trust and have faith in Him.  We need to shift our gears to neutral vs. jamming on our brakes otherwise we spin out of control and overreact.  Just for a moment.  Pause to reflect on His love for us, the second chance for us to reflect, repent, reset and renew in Him.

When we reflect, repent and grow in His ways, we find greater meaning and acknowledge the past, accept the present and project into the future.  Repenting our sins is more than saying I’m sorry.  It takes surrendering ourselves—including the bad habits, and asking for forgiveness.  Only through reflection and repenting on who we are being and who we want to become can we offer help, elevate hope and shine into the future.

Resetting and Renewing.  We put our new self into action and our purpose into practice.  That’s succession.  This is where our renewed self truly shows…what is most important in our heart is God.  Not our job, our loved ones or wealth.  Renewing is a lifelong pursuit.

Indeed, from time to time, we must give ourselves a pause to pick up the pieces.  But in the end, we have to move forward, grow and lead others to God.  For Faith is the Victory.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”  (1 John 5:4)

Join Us and Grow Spiritually

We warmly invite you to our upcoming Spring 2025 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC)—a time of worship, fellowship, and deepening our trust and faith in God.  Bring your family and friends as we learn how to create a Christ-centered life at home, work and beyond.  Save the date—we look forward to seeing you! 

Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:00AM to 1:00PM

Please find our church location below:

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
 Google Maps

In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.

Friday Evening Service:  7:50PM – 9:00PM

Saturday Morning Service:  10:50AM – 12:00Noon

Saturday Afternoon Service:  1:30PM – 2:40PM

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org