In Letters to an American Lady, C. S. Lewis wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us: we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” Do I hear an “Amen”?
Some unrealistic expectations contaminated my early faith in Jesus. Because the Bible says the Lord goes before me and behind me and lays His hand upon me (Ps. 139:5), I thought He surely shielded those who walked with Him from pain.
When I bought my first car, I even wondered why God’s children needed car insurance. Doesn’t God take care of us? In the span of a couple of years, my car was in three accidents. None of them were my fault. Twice it was stopped or parked where it was supposed to be. But I had to pay each time. My heavenly Father took care of me, not by sparing me of aggravation, but by teaching me how to walk with Him through the disappointments of an unfair world.
Working as a counselor, I learned it’s not uncommon for Christians to be confused over their painful circumstances. They wonder how their losses could have happened when they’d honored God with good lives. Was there something wrong with them—or with God?

I hope Little Women, Big God will free people from the disillusionment pain and hardship can cause. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible shows God’s chosen followers suffered slavery, abuse, imprisonment, and even martyrdom while those who spit at God luxuriated in palaces. Even the women in Jesus’ genealogy weren’t spared great difficulties and unfairness. Take a peek:

• Tamar’s wicked husband used her for sex and prevented her from conceiving the child she needed for companionship, acceptance, and security.

• Rahab supported herself as a professional prostitute in a pagan culture. What hope did she have of a happy and decent life?

• Ruth, a widowed foreigner, had less status than a lowly servant girl when poverty forced her to glean barley for food.

But God wove an amazing twist into each one’s story. God’s intervention on behalf of these women shows us that happy endings don’t depend on the size of our problems or even the size of our faith, but on the size of our God. As God created beauty from ashes for them, so He’s promised to do the same for us who love Him (Romans 8:28).
What challenge or suffering has dwarfed your courage or faith? Trials teach us we need a big God. The women in Jesus’ family tree show us we have one in Jesus.
Debbie Wilson wants to celebrate the release of her new book Little Women, Big God: It’s not the size of your problems, but the size of your God with you. Please leave a comment to enter to win a free copy. If you’re in a hurry, simply say, “I’m leaning on my big God!” Winner will be drawn on Sunday, March 20th. 
About Debbie:
Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman who has experienced an extraordinary God. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie speaks and writes to help women discover relevant faith. She and her husband, Larry, founded Lighthouse Ministries in 1991. They, along with their two grown children and two standard poodles, enjoy calling North Carolina home. Share her journey to refreshing faith at her blog.
www.Lighthouseministriesnc.org, (www.debbiewwilson.com) http://debbiewwilson.com/little-women-big-god/