We often encounter winds of adversity in our life.
Satan means for them to snuff out our light; but God is faithful - not only to
give us grace to withstand the storms, but also to allow them to help us to burn
brighter still.
We may experience discomfort from a fiery trial, a
disappointing loss or a daunting challenge; but we will always have light,
because the Son within us never fades.
It is human nature to respond to adversity by
fighting back or by grumbling and complaining. In resorting to this negative
behavior, we actually lose our serenity altogether.
Even through circumstances, which rage out of our
control, God provides a place of rest for us (Hebrews 4:11). The key is to patiently
accept that He has everything under His control.
As the Great Physician, our Father God often
applies His scalpel to some part of our life that is sick or diseased. He makes
a clean cut and leaves no scar. Though He wounds, He will never break (Matthew
12:20).
He only operates when it is absolutely necessary,
and when He knows it is for our ultimate, overall good health. He uses life’s circumstances
as His surgical tools to remove dead weight from our life.
He may remove some cherished person, home, job,
etc, but He knows the plans He has for our future (Jeremiah 29:11), and what He
chooses to remove is not part of those plans.
When we realize the truth that God is always
constant and sheds His love and wisdom on us regardless of our circumstances,
we learn to be content in whatever condition we find our self (Philippians
4:11-13).
This way, we will never experience the depression
of hopes dashed against the cold reality of a faded dream. Instead, we will
rest in the solid constancy of a never changing Son who never fails us nor
forsakes us (Isaiah 60:20; Hebrews 13:5).
Prayer:
Father God, sometimes, we foolishly fill the void
in our life with earthly treasures. We play the game of “if only.” “If only I
could have this possession or that person, I’d be complete.” Remind us that even when we attain our
heart’s desire, the newness eventually wears off, the meaning evaporates and we
are empty once again.
Help us to see that it is only when we completely surrender
to Christ in our life, and when we do not try to replace Him with earthly
treasures, that we remain happy and fulfilled with true joy now and throughout
eternity.
Thought for the Day:
Whatever we cherish as the desire of our heart is actually
our god; if Jesus is our purest desire, we will feel the fulfillment, which only
comes when we live a life entirely surrendered to the will of God.
