Believing in what I can't see

Wouldn’t it be nice if once we became a Christian, we did not have to go through any hard times? Maybe if God could put a nice bubble around us and steer us down the path of happiness and good fortune?   It is a nice dream, but unfortunately nowhere close to reality.  Everyone, including Christians, must face difficult circumstances at some point in their lives.     The storms we face look different and vary in severity, but all are very real and challenging.  It is so hard to see God’s hand working on our darkest days.  I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I could truly see God working like Elisha could. In 2Kings6 Elisha made an enemy of the King of Syria.  Ben-hadad did not appreciate Elisha revealing his war plans to the king of Israel. So much so, he sent a great host by night to surround Dothan where Elisha was staying. I can only imagine how terrifying  that would be to wake up to. Surrounded by an army of horses and chariots, no possible way out right? 2Kings6:15-17 “..And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” To Elisha’s servant, he woke up to what he must have thought was the end, as many of us feel in our struggles, but God provided a way. I had a complete stranger tell me once he had met Jesus. I assumed he meant he was saved. He proceeded to tell me how he was in the hospital many years back with severe abdominal pain, doctors did not think he would live very long, and then suddenly the pain went away and he saw Jesus in his hospital room (He made it clear that Jesus  looks nothing like the pictures you see at church). The  doctors were amazed by the effectiveness of a surgery they had performed and for a man over 80 years old he seemed as I was talking with him to be in good health. Although the doctors thought his days were short, God had a different plan just like with Elisha. I am proud I was able to hear his story. Through his story and Elisha’s I am reminded that God never leaves us. We may not be able to see Him working out His plan for our lives, but He is. When I feel like I am completely surrounded and having the worst of days I remember the words of Elisha, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”