Bridging Eternal Promises with Present Pain: Navigating Faith Through Life's Hardest Trials

The hardest part of my faith is to bring the eternal promises of faith into my present circumstances.  This is a blog to remind myself how although its the hardest thing to do when Tracy's health tends to be my deepest desire.

1. Acknowledge the Tension

The hardest part of faith is often reconciling what we believe with what we experience. You’re not alone in this struggle. The expectation set in Mark 12 to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength seems almost insurmountable when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Recognize that holding this tension is part of the faith journey. It’s okay to feel the distance between the eternal promise and your present reality.

2. Lean into the Lament of Psalm 13

Psalm 13 provides a roadmap for navigating this very tension. It begins with David’s honest lament: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” This is an invitation to bring your rawest emotions to God. When the weight of your wife’s illness, the financial pressures, and the daily demands of parenting all pile up, don’t be afraid to voice your pain and doubt. God can handle your questions and fears. This is part of loving Him with all your heart—bringing your whole, unfiltered self before Him.

3. Ask for God’s Presence in the Present

David’s next step in Psalm 13 is a plea for help: “Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.” In your circumstances, this might look like asking God for the strength to face each day, for moments of peace amidst the storm, or for the clarity to take the next step. It’s seeking His presence not just in the future promise, but in the here and now. This is how you love Him with all your strength—by holding on, even when you’re exhausted.

4. Choose to Trust Even When It Feels Fragile

David’s declaration, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation,” is a shift from despair to trust. Trusting in God’s unfailing love while your life feels like it’s unraveling is one of the hardest acts of faith. It’s choosing to believe that the promise of Revelation 21 is as real now as it will be when it’s finally fulfilled. This trust is what anchors you when everything around you is unstable.

Even if trust feels fragile or fleeting, choosing it moment by moment brings the promise into your present. It doesn’t mean you deny the hardship; it means you believe God is with you in it and that His promises are already at work, even if they’re not fully realized yet.

5. Find Moments of Praise in the Midst of Pain

Psalm 13 ends with, “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” This isn’t about denying your suffering but finding glimpses of God’s goodness in the middle of it. It’s the comforting words of a friend, the laughter of your children after a hard day, or the quiet strength you feel holding your wife’s hand. Praising God in these moments is an act of defiance against despair. It’s an acknowledgment that, even in the storm, His presence is real.

6. Hold On to the Promise of Revelation 21 as a Lifeline

The promise that God will one day wipe every tear from our eyes is not just for the future—it’s a lifeline for today. It tells you that the current suffering has an end, that your pain is seen, and that there is a greater reality being woven through the hardship. Let this promise remind you that your story isn’t just defined by the present struggle; it’s part of a larger, redemptive narrative.

Final Thoughts

Bringing the eternal promises of faith into your present means living in the tension between Mark 12’s expectation and Revelation 21’s promise, guided by the process of Psalm 13. It’s about crying out to God in your distress, asking for His help, choosing to trust when it feels impossible, and finding moments of praise amidst the pain. This journey doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be yours. Each step you take, even the smallest one, is an act of faith that connects the eternal promise with your very real, present struggle.

Scriptural References

 Mark 12:30 “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  … from Deuteronomy 6:5 “5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 Revelation 21:4 … 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 Psalm 13 … 

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”

    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,

    for he has been good to me.