For
most of us, this world is full of trouble and sorrow. We have times of
happiness and constructive building, but other times we suffer from fear,
stress, sickness, loss and destruction.
Many
people blame God for these negative circumstances, and take all the credit for the
good times they experience (Lamentations 3:1-21). Without Christ in us, however,
we will experience the blunt of the results of living on this sin-cursed earth.
As
authentic Believers, we can traverse these same trials with the joy and peace
of Christ within us. We simply change our focus from our troubles to God's
constant comfort and multitude of blessings in our life (Isaiah 26:3;
Lamentations 3:22-41).
As
we concentrate on the amazing amount of times that God encouraged us, gave us
hope, and worked out all things for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28), we realize
that every trial is a gift from God. He plants a seed for a miracle in every
one of them.
The
Lord is good to all those who wait on, rely on and trust only in Him
(Lamentations 3:25). We realize that life's afflictions do not totally consume
us, only because of His compassion and His mercy - which never fails and is new
every single morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
God
may allow Satan to buffet us as He did Job (Job 1:13-19), because He uses our
circumstances to mold us. He works out our negative character traits and draws
us more intimately into His presence within us, but He never leaves or forsakes
us (Hebrews 13:5).
All
the while, God is right there in us, walking through the tribulation with us.
He is comforting us, teaching us wisdom, allowing us to learn as we reap what
we sow, and revealing His eternal presence within our spirit.
Once
we face our self during the misery, and praise God in spite of the horrid circumstances,
we see God's mighty hand pouring out His blessings in our life more than ever
before (Job 42:10).
Prayer:
Father
God, when we face our utter failure and wretchedness that comes from trusting
in our human resources, we soon learn to appreciate Your truth and grace in our
life. We are no longer consumed with darkness, but revel in Your glorious light
(John 8:12).
We
submit to the trials in our life, allowing them to mold us and make us
according to Your will for us (Lamentations 3:32-33). Once we start to think
about our choices, rather than complaining about our "lot" in life,
and we turn back to Your perfect plan for us, we free You to pour out Your multitude
of blessings on our life, regardless of our situation (Lamentations 3:39:40).
Thought
for the Day:
The
more we listen to God's Spirit within us and walk in the center of His perfect
plan for our life, the fewer trials, discomfort and negative issues we
experience; although life in this sin-cursed world does bring us sickness,
death and sorrow, we are victorious in Christ through it all. - Ephesians 2:10
