For I handed on to you among the first things that I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures 4 and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)
This Christian walk is one in which we must take up our own crosses and follow our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. In this life we will have tribulation. However, in the midst of fiery trials we grow less self-oriented, less self-dependent, and less self-righteous while we learn that we must, at all costs, abide in Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit….
In this time before our Lord takes us home, there will be much heartache, many crushing blows, and at times, it will seem that the world and those who follow it have all the cards and are on the way to winning by whatever means. However, as our Lord Jesus said on the night of his arrest leading up to his crucifixion, “ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐν ἐμοὶ εἰρήνην ἔχητε. ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ἔχετε· ἀλλὰ θαρσεῖτε, ἐγὼ νενίκηκα τὸν κόσμον.” Or, “These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but be cheerful, I have conquered the world.”
Therefore my brethren, when you are dealt a wicked blow and find yourself in midst of a fiery trial and find that you have no comfort zones left, you are right where Christ wants you and where you need to be spiritually. Is it painful? Yes! Is it heart breaking? Yes, assuredly it is and can be devastating depending upon the circumstances. However, the very last thing we need to do as Christians is put on a brave face and pretend that we are not affected by whatever it is. We hurt, we are grieved, we may even become angry, but what we must not do is forget who we are in Christ, turning our backs on him while being consumed by the flesh. The best place to be during these times is in prayer before the throne of grace.