You're not Superman.

I was Skyping with a good friend of mine this week. She's been living in a beautiful European country, studying her Masters. That would sound like the dream situation for anyone, and for her I'm sure it is. God made it clear that He wanted her there. But moving to a new country, with few connections and having to find and then build into a community from scratch is tough. You face huge challenges when you move and make big changes.

Needless to say, when we Skyped, she shared with me the ever continuing challenges and trials she had been undergoing. It's hard when you're miles away from your support system. 

Here I sit, on my side of the world, in the comfort and security of my family and friends, supported by my close ties to my community. I was feeling thankful as I thought about how blessed I was to have this as I faced my own challenging situations here. I knew my friend felt isolated, and lacking in a strong supportive community.

As we further discussed the trials and lessons God was taking her through, it all seemed overwhelming. She sounded confused, and just wanted some clarity and answers. I found myself asking the same questions that had been running through her head: "For what purpose did God place her here?", "What did He want her to do? What direction did she need to take?" "Was God going to transform her situation somehow? Was He going to save the day?"

I wanted to help her. I wanted to be able to give her some comfort and truth in her times of struggle. My thoughts raced as I tried to figure out some form of solid truth of God to give to her. What should I say? "Keep praying and trusting God. Keep seeking God's will and walking according to His Spirit." Okay. But she's already doing all this, isn't she? While saying these truths is probably good to voice, it didn't feel good enough or complete. If I had said those things without understanding why she should, it would be completely empty. 

I stepped back to think about what I had been learning. Learning to walk according to the Spirit no matter what, and allowing His leading to take over has been huge for me these past few months. As I reflected, I realized that I didn't have to try to find a solution to her problems. She too did not have to seek a solid solution to end her problems. 

The most important thing about any situation I have been in is realizing the transformation that God desires to work in us through these experiences. Let the specifics of the problem fade, and let Jesus take center focus. In all circumstances and challenges God wants to transform us. Our problems will not be resolved by our own thinking or the solutions we come up with, but by God's leading and will. It may not seem like the problems get "resolved" at all, at least not in our time, but the main thing is serving God, and Him transforming us at every turn.  

You don't have to be Superman and try save the day, because you're not. I could not do or say anything to help my friend solve her problems, and if she tried to find a solution to her situation she would probably find herself exhausted. In the end it comes down to resting our thoughts on God, transforming every storm and desert into an opportunity to draw closer to Him, and to be changed by Him. As we do this, He will bring about resolution. God will teach us reliance, endurance and perseverance and in the end, we will know Him even more and have come even closer to Him. 

"Keep praying, and seeking God's will and walking according to His Spirit...because He is using these times to refine you. He wants to transform you. Let the specific problems fade out, and learn complete reliance on Him." 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

 

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

In all ways, walk according to God's leading. Let God and His will in you - which is at all costs to serve and be made more like Him - be a constant thought and desire in your head and heart. God desires to cultivate in us complete reliance, to refine us and burn away all the impurities.