Trials and Faith

After 10 days of confinement, 2 surgeries, 100K bill accrual and a liter of tears shed, we're still not sure when Tatay will be released from the hospital.

A hundred questions run through Jay's family's minds: when will tatay recover?; will he recover?; where do we get the money?; was it the right decision to have him operated on?; why did he get sick?; why does he have to suffer?; how long do we still have him?; how will nanay be without him?; how come it has to be tatay?

Sadly, answers are mostly disheartening, showing a steady decline of faith with God. I know that is just natural... With all the hardships and sufferings the family is facing, keeping a strong faith would be hard.

But though it may be the natural course for one's faith to go, it is not the only path. With the trials that come, faith could also be strenghtened. I have read one passage from the bible that somehow will tell us why we should stop supplying our own answers (discouraging answers at that) to our questions to God:

Romans 11:33-34 (New International Version)
" 33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

For better understanding, here is the passage from The Message:

33-34 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out.
Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?

So point is, we are not to question the plans that God has for us. With the shallowness of our understanding, we may not be able to grasp his purpose. But though we lack understanding, there is one thing that will help us see. In times when we are so down and so doubtful of everything that is happening, our faith in God should see us through, and this faith will bring us the peace and the strength to face all the trials that come our way.

Isaiah 26:3-4 3
"3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."