When a loved one dies too soon or unexpectedly, we often blame God, question His love for us, or find it difficult to hang on to our faith in Him. If they suffer cruelly, we may also feel angry and bitter and doubt God’s care, mercy and compassion for them and for us (Psalm 102:12-13).
The fact is that our body wears out and sin causes the earth to suffer destruction; yet God is always the same, and He will always be with us. Regardless of our circumstances, He watches over us and enables us to live through the good times and the bad, in the safety and security of His presence within us (Psalm 102:27-28, 121:5-6).
Doubting His motives and despairing in our circumstances is counterproductive. Paul and Silas knew the secret to a fulfilled life. Even when beaten and imprisoned, they prayed and praised aloud in the presence of the other prisoners.
When God opened their prison doors and loosened their shackles, the men went one step further and shared the saving Gospel of Christ with the jailer who then took them home, cleaned their wounds and fed them. Our attitude in our negative circumstances is quite a witness to the world around us as they see our outlook and God’s mighty hand in our defense.
We never need to worry, or to entertain negative thoughts and emotions, which are usually lies from Satan in his attempts to pull us away from God. As we fulfill God’s plan for our day, He will give us divine appointments in which to share His love and truth with those He brings our way.
No other relationship available to us on this earth, or in eternity is greater than the possibility of an intimate union with the Trinity of God. When we cling to Him through adversity, He comforts us from within, and He works out everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that You may allow us to experience torture, but You will heal us at the same time, and use our attitude and behavior to bring others into Your Kingdom. You may even give us a prison ministry like You gave to Paul and Silas, so that we can praise You in the midst of our negative circumstances.
At times, Your purpose is to send us in a new direction in our life; therefore, remind us that spending quiet time with You is vitally important for our healing.
We may experience poor health on this earth, but as we trust You as our Great Physician, Your intervention for us can give hope to countless others who are also experiencing physical pain and challenges. A handicap can be an irritation, but as You teach us to adjust to it, or when You heal us of the infirmity completely, we can be a witness to others. We want to serve You in Your Kingdom according to Your perfect will for us.
Thought for the Day:
God calls us to walk by faith and obedience to Him in our faith and in the works that He chooses us to accomplish for Him; He continually fills us by His Spirit to give us wisdom, peace and joy through every circumstance, and to teach us to truly listen to those He brings our way as we influence them for the Kingdom of God.
