Don’t lose faith when things are tough

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

— Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

I’d been going through a rough time of it. Things were breaking down one after the other, leaving me frustrated and bewildered.

It started with an expensive fix to my clothes dryer. Next, I had to replace my entire house heating system, piping and all. Then my van wouldn’t pass the emissions test and my mechanic, after replacing a few parts, couldn’t figure out how to resolve the problem.

Next, my computer crashed. A month later, my brand-new computer crashed. Once again, I had to go through the process of purchasing a computer and having all my files transferred.

Then, in the midst of a snowstorm, my microwave quit working. As I bundled up in my winter attire to head out to the store, I asked, “Lord, why is all of this happening?”

I was doing my best to keep a good attitude, but I really didn’t feel like spending one more dime. But I had to face it, I was feeling drained emotionally, physically and financially. On top of it, I was fighting a bad cold.

Sometimes, in our frustration and confusion, we simply need to break down and lament to God, like the lamenting prophet Jeremiah, who felt frustrated and wept over his dire situation after the siege of his beloved city, Jerusalem.

Drying my tears, I did my best to hold back my sniffles and choked back my coughs to make my way to the microwave section of the big box store. Hoping this was my last major purchase.

But it wasn’t. A few months later, my clothes washer needed replacing and my 15-year-old refrigerator went out.

When it was finally over, I reflected how God had provided thrifty ways to pay my bills and replace old things with updated, newer ones. Most of all, as I lamented my way through it, I saw God’s faithfulness.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.