Most people are either on top of
the world right now, or buried under the burden of frustration, discouragement
and disappointment. Jesus Christ makes the difference in both of these
instances.
Even if someone is totally
successful and right where their goals led them over the last few years, they
may be as unsatisfied and unfulfilled as they were when they started their
journey to the top.
Many people give up at this point
and opt for a simpler life, downgrading their salary and vocational
expectations for a quieter and less stressful lifestyle.
For Believers, living in the
center of God's will is the only place where we find complete contentment. He
may continue to lead us in the vein in which we started - adding an altered
mindset, or He may change our circumstances completely.
It all hinges on finding and
fulfilling God's directives for our life (Proverbs 3:5-6). We completely
surrender our will and plans to Him, and live by the direction of His Holy
Spirit instead of our human desires.
Even if God leads us through some
valley or trial, we find His purpose for us in it. We can witness of His mercy
and grace to a fellow traveler, learn a needed lesson, view His provision for
us in a whole new light, and grow in our intimacy with Him through it all (1
Peter 4:12).
We learn to depend on His Body
during our trials, to grow closer to our spouse, family and church family; our
faith grows in the fact that we can count on certain people to help us and that
God never fails us.
Prayer:
Father God, some trials devastate
us to our very core. They shake the foundations of our trust in You and our faith
in humanity. Yet, we often survive these unhappy circumstances with enduring
blessings that we never would have experienced without them. Remind us to focus
on You in the good times and the bad, giving You praise for each instance as we
focus on You - You never change (Hebrews 13:8).
Help us to see life from Your
viewpoint rather than our limited, human perspective. Spur us to remain
faithful to You in spite of them. We look at life now through Your unfailing
love and comfort, according to Your promises and provision (Psalm 119:75-76).
Demonstrate Yourself to us in all of Your power and majesty.
Thought for the Day:
Prayerfully surrendering our
trials to God allows us to gain His perspective on what seems like a turn of
bad luck; we ask God's Spirit for His wisdom and direction; and we come through
these times of testing with a deeper faith and stronger spiritual, mental and
emotional fortitude than we ever experienced in our life in the past.
