How should we respond in hardships?
Everyone experiences hardships in life. We may experience hardships at school where balancing studies and extra-curricular activities can be a challenge – especially during finals week. Hardships can also arise at home, where sometimes we hear news we don’t want to hear. Regardless of where hardships may occur, they are inevitable. And although they are unfortunate, they are also an opportunity to share the gospel of Christ.
This is because believers have the opportunity to respond differently to hardships when compared to the rest of the world. So let’s look to John 2:1-11 and unpack the opportunities we have to share the gospel.
We trust in Jesus (v 1-5)
When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
The story in John 2:1-11 begins by recounting that the supply at a wedding had finished right in the middle of the festivities. Similar to many weddings today, it was customary for the bride and groom to provide wine at weddings. Running out of wine before the celebrations were over, however, caused shame and hardship for those involved.
But in this time, we see Jesus’ mother, Mary, trust in Jesus. Despite not knowing the outcome, she knew that no problem was too difficult for Him to handle. So she responded in directing the servants to assist Him in resolving the hardship.
When we go through difficult times, our natural response is to focus on the hardship. However, as we learn from Mary, we should respond by trusting that Jesus will help us overcome our hardship, according to His will.
We patiently wait (v 6-8)
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Surely, between Jesus making wine from water, the servants (and the bride, the groom, and the parents) were nervous in waiting to see what Jesus would do. In these verses, Jesus tells the servants to fill six 38 litre jars with water. This would have taken a long time. Moreover, why would they need to fill the jars with water, when they needed wine? Despite the lack of clarity, we see the servants patiently obeyed Jesus and filled the jugs with water.
During hardships, our flesh tells us to give up and feel overcome with defeat. However, during those times, we should respond like the servants. Patiently obeying Christ, whilst drawing closer to Him in humility & surrender.
We know nothing is in vain (v 9-11)
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Like in the story, no hardship is in vain when experienced through the lens of the Christ. Jesus miraculously turned water into wine. Although the miracle simply ended positively for the bride and groom, the Bible doesn’t tell us whether the hosts or the guests of the wedding received salvation. But in verse 11, the fruit of this hardship was that the disciples believed in Christ.
Just as a mother who experiences the pain of pregnancy, the pain is purposeful, as a baby will be born after the pain has been endured. Similarly, the hardships we face are also not in vain. As they are opportunities to increase our faith in Christ.
In our hardships, let us trust in Christ, knowing that our suffering produces spiritual growth, and in turn may help lead others to the gospel.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us & giving us the opportunity to increase our faith during hardships.
Forgive us for when we fail to see your purposes in our difficult times, & remind us to trust in you more during those times.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen