Seeing Jesus in Difficult Circumstances
By DAWN VOSKUIL
The season brought warmth, birds, and flowers, but I barely noticed the beauty and life around me. I was caught in a funk darker than the bleakest winter day. Physically, I had been sick with an infection I couldn’t shake. Spiritually, the enemy was assailing me through the bitter words of another. Emotionally, I was in turmoil because of the failing health of my husband.
Four years earlier, my husband had found a lump in his neck. He was diagnosed with lymphoma, given a quick zap with radiation, and the lymphoma went into remission. But a year-and-a-half later, my husband’s lymphoma returned.
Chemotherapy was now the recommended treatment, but my husband was not at peace with accepting this intervention. His resistance was partly due to the negative and unsuccessful experiences of loved ones. But, mostly, he didn’t want to submit to chemo because he believed God would heal him.
On the contrary, I had no such conviction. Lymphoma was sucking the life out of the biggest, strongest man I had ever known. All I saw was a future of loss.
It was at this low point that God directed me to John 12:20–36. Previously when I read this, I focused on Jesus’ perceived indifference and missed the treasures. But in my current trial, the Lord used this passage to teach me how to thrive and see Jesus in difficult circumstances.
Go to Jesus
Philip, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, had a perplexing problem:
Some Greeks … came to Philip … and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:20–21
Whether or not to introduce some Greeks to Jesus may not seem like a bewildering problem to us, but we are not first century Jews. Religious Jews had no dealings with Gentiles. Philip had to wonder if he should talk with Greeks, let alone invite them to meet Jesus.
Philip needed help knowing what to do, so he took his concerns to his friend and fellow disciple, Andrew. Andrew didn’t know how to solve the dilemma, but he did know to whom they should take it.
Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. John 12:22
Before running to doctors, consulting the internet, or turning to loved ones, we should go to Jesus with our problems. After Jesus, we should only go to those who will point us to Jesus. If we go anywhere before Jesus, we will only prolong our problems and add to our sufferings.
Let Go of your agenda
Philip and Andrew came to Jesus with a simple yes-or-no question: “Do You want to meet these Greeks or not?” And Jesus seemed to give them an irrelevant answer:
Jesus answered them, … “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me.” John 12:23–26
When we come to Jesus with a simple request and He responds in a seemingly unrelated way, we are often confused. We must look past first impressions. Jesus did answer Philip and Andrew’s question, and He gave the Greeks an opportunity to see Him. Jesus’ answer indicated that there was a way to go beyond seeing Him to knowing Him. That way was through self-denial.
As believers, we should already be practicing this. This passage isn’t the only time Jesus detailed that self-denial is a requirement for following Him — He made at least a dozen similar statements, and taught and modeled many more.
If self-sacrifice hasn’t been a priority in our relationship with Christ, now is the perfect time to start. Let’s submit to the Lord’s non-negotiable request by placing our hopes, dreams, loved ones, situations, and ourselves on the altar. Allow God to burn up what He doesn’t want us to have and sanctify and hand back to us what He does.
If we refuse to participate in this step, we will never find the peace and joy God wishes to give us in the difficult situations He has allowed into our lives. And we will miss the intimacy we could have with Christ that will carry us through future challenges.
When I realized the necessity of forsaking my agenda, I made a concentrated effort to put everything I loved on the altar. That included my husband, ministry, home, and myself. I accepted whatever God had planned for my future.
Realize this has a purpose
God wouldn’t allow difficult circumstances in our lives if He didn’t intend to use them for our good, the good of others, and to reveal Himself through them. God has something much bigger and better planned than we can imagine.
We are not alone in experiencing difficulty in connection with God-ordained plans. The Bible is full of accounts of those who experienced extreme difficulty while participating in God’s will. Their steadfastness and obedience during trouble ultimately benefited God’s plans for His people.
What is more, Jesus understands turmoil:
“Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” John 12:27–28
Jesus wasn’t excited about crucifixion, bearing the punishment for the sins of humanity, and being reviled while the wrath of God rested on His shoulders. But He was willing to go through the torture because He knew it was purposeful. Experiencing the fruition of God’s plan was worth the pain.
“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” John 12:31–32
The difficulties we experience may be exactly what help us achieve the purposes for which we were created. These circumstances are for God’s good, pleasing, and perfect purpose. The intended reasons and the desired results are bigger than us. God is asking us to trust Him and be willing to participate in the wonderful things He is trying to accomplish.
My recent difficulties drew both my husband and me closer to Jesus and solidified our faith in areas where we previously doubted. Increased faith is a treasure worth the trouble.
Remembering God’s Promises
Andrew knew Jesus came to save the whole world. (See John 1:29–40.) Yet, when some Greeks wanted to meet Jesus, he forgot that salvation was for everyone.
After the phrase “fear not,” I have heard that “remember” is the most commonly repeated command in Scripture. We are apt to forget what we need exactly when we need it most. No wonder God continues to admonish us to remember.
God uses our troublesome experiences to solidify truths He has previously shared with us. What we are being taught and led to remember is what helps us valiantly rise to current and future challenges.
In Jesus’ upcoming difficult assignment, He asked the Father to glorify His name.
Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not Mine.” John 12:28–30
When we struggle, we may desire a voice from Heaven in answer to our prayers. But, even if that were to happen, we might not understand it, or we may write it off as a coincidence or a natural occurrence.
God speaks, but we often don’t take time to hear Him. Every day God gives us opportunities to listen to His voice, remember His promises, and rediscover those we have forgotten. It is essential that we not neglect our time in the Word and prayer, especially when experiencing difficulty. There are hundreds of God-spoken promises in the Bible that apply to our situations. We must lean our ears to Heaven and open God’s Word to hear what He has to say.
Looking back, I can remember four separate times during my struggle that God, through His Word, indicated that my husband would be healed, but I was already preparing mentally and emotionally for widowhood; therefore, I couldn’t accept those promises.
Hold on to God’s Promises
Because of my lack of faith, I was unable to maintain a firm grasp on the promises of God related to my situation. The assurances I so desperately wanted ran through my fingers like oil and disappeared into the air like water vapor.
It is easy to doubt when what God says doesn’t match what we see. But faith is not sight, and when we are tempted to disregard God’s promises and sink into despair is the exact moment we need to hold on to truth.
Those who came seeking Jesus had trouble reconciling what they believed with what Jesus said. They began to doubt Jesus was the Messiah.
So the crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” John 12:34
Again, Jesus’ answer was not plain, but His response included everything they needed to know to settle their hearts over this question and help them navigate through other such perceived contradictions in the future.
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:35–36
These verses remind me of how we can maneuver through our homes in the dark because we know the furniture and fixtures are in their appropriate places. How strengthening to know that God’s Word is even more stable. (See Matthew 5:18 and 24:35.)
Let’s make a habit of listening to and believing what God says when difficult circumstances haven’t clouded our paths. Then we will be more likely to remember His words when we find ourselves in the dark and agree with God, even when it is confusing.
The Lord will work in our current problems because He has worked in our past ones. God has not changed even if our situations have. His promises are no less true just because we have trouble believing them.
Let Your Faith Be Your Sight
Doubt tempts us to process happenings logically. When we succumb to doubt, faith seems elusive and fear seems reasonable. But when we put our confidence in God and His truth, we realize our doubts are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. What we feared is not reality. God is real, and what He promised before doubt entered the picture is true. Remembering and standing on God’s Word when everything appears to be the opposite helps us overcome doubt.
The Greeks desired to see Jesus. Philip and Andrew wanted guidance from Him. But, likely before either of them were satisfied, Jesus pulled away:
When Jesus had said these things, He departed and hid Himself from them. John 12:36
There is nothing that tempts us to doubt more than when we desire Jesus and He seems to have disappeared. Truthfully, Christ has not left us. The Scriptures testify to this. Perceived abandonment is just another test of our faith.
Faith must be tested because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith.
Oswald Chambers said, “Out of His great mercy, God provides opportunities to strengthen our faith. If we submit to the tests through God’s enabling power, we learn how to walk obediently forward even when our sight is limited.”
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4
Strengthen your faith
Tested and proven faith builds confidence. But there is a way to participate in multiplying the effectiveness of God’s faith-building tests. This accelerated grower of faith is called thanksgiving.
The Scriptures challenge us:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every situation there is always something to be thankful for. Ultimately, our faith isn’t adequately strengthened by gratefulness in all circumstances. But it is in thankfulness for every difficulty that real faith growth happens. That is why God also commanded:
[Give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
By submitting to God’s enabling power and rising to the challenge of thanking the Lord for everything — even suffering — we come to know God in ways we otherwise would never have experienced. Peter wrote:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12–13
If we believe God is perfect and powerful, having arranged or allowed our difficult circumstances for our good, then thanking Him for trials should be easy. It often is not easy because what we say we believe doesn’t match our actual faith.
When I began thanking God, He revealed I had been in danger of putting my security in my husband — and my husband, with all his strength and success, was in danger of pride. This difficulty was developing in us a proper foundation of where to place our trust and producing humility and compassion in us.
One of God’s primary purposes in allowing difficulties is to expand our faith and prepare us for the future. We cannot fathom what will eventually be required of us. But God sees tomorrow and into eternity. If we trust and allow Him to build our faith now, we will have what we need to thrive later.
Thankfulness feeds faith like nothing else. Nourished faith assures us of the hope we have in God to bring good out of any difficulty.
We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:2–5
Experience the Glory
In the hands of God, suffering always leads to glory. Traveling the road of difficulty the way God intended connects us with Christ and brings glory to God. But the glory doesn’t stop there. Since we are in Christ, the result of God-ordained suffering brings glory to God’s children, as well.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator … And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 4:19, 5:10
We are children of God … and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:16–18
Bringing glory out of difficulty is God’s pattern. After we have gone through trials the way the Lord intended, our idea of glory is changed. Before trouble enters our lives, we tend to be selfish and prideful. The glory we often desire is for people to see us. However, after we endure suffering, the glory we want is for people to see Jesus.
If during our trials we learn to see Jesus, we realize the greatest reward is the deepening of our relationship with Him. As we seek to know Christ in our difficult circumstances, God begins to see His reflection in us. Like a refiner of gold who carefully watches the fire and extinguishes it as soon as the metal is purified, God allows suffering in our lives until it draws us to, and makes us more like, Him.
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On a mid-summer’s afternoon, I received a phone call informing me that my husband was struggling to breathe and was taken to the hospital. That night as I sat in the emergency room, my enfeebled husband on oxygen, a doctor spoke about hospice and predicted that my husband would never leave the hospital.
I began to pray, “Lord, You burned what I put on the altar. My husband is dying. I don’t see how I can continue in ministry without his support. And I know I can’t take care of a home near my children and grandchildren, where we can gather as a family. But I choose to glorify You. I praise You that no one can take You away from me.”
But I wasn’t the only one calling out to the Lord. Believers all around us were also praying. The antibiotics started to fight the pneumonia and blood infection. And my husband listened to a sermon that gave him the answer he sought about accepting the chemo which immediately began to work attacking his lymphoma.
Ten days later, contrary to the doctor’s declaration, my husband was released from the hospital. Six weeks later, when I returned to ministry, my husband was in Europe on a business trip! The Lord truly can do immeasurably more than we can imagine!
The Greeks would have been delighted to share a handshake with Jesus. Philip and Andrew would have been happy if He gave them a quick, easy answer. Often, we would be satisfied if God took away our problems. But all those years ago in Jerusalem, Jesus had much more planned for those who came to Him with such small requests. Jesus desired to share Himself with the Greeks. Jesus wanted Philip and Andrew to know Him well enough that they could perceive His answer when He was no longer with them. And Jesus has abundantly more planned for us amid our difficulties. We ask to see Jesus in our circumstances; Jesus wants us to know Him through them! God knows we will never ultimately be satisfied until we intimately know Jesus.
This article was originally published in Issue 48.
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