Each and every day we are tested and tried is some small way, and on some days a big test will come our way. As much as I believe the enemy is constantly bombarding us with chances to mess up, I think God is also giving us opportunities to get it right. It really just depends on how you want to look at it. And of course the enemy wants you to only see the negative side of everything.
I used to be one of those people who did see the negative side of most things. I was always wondering why is this or that happening to "me". I wouldn't say I was a negative person, but I certainly was not walking around looking for the good in every situation. However, a few years ago God really began to work on that in me and started to teach me that I just had a wrong perspective on the things I went through. Instead of seeing everything I go through as another chance to fail or be defeated, I started to see them as another chance to rely on God more. Another chance to allow Him to show me the way out. And another chance to tell people about Him in the end. It didn't mean that bad things didn't still happen to me, it just meant that I spent more time looking for God's goodness during the "storm" than I did complaining about the storm or be blinded by the bad/negative. I mean, if Paul could write and praise God from a jail cell where he had no idea what the outcome was going to be like, then why couldn't I look for, and find, God's goodness in my situations?
I know the things we face in life are not fun and I am not tying to dismiss the pain we sometimes go through. But what I am trying to say is that the things that hit us hard do not hit God hard. We have to keep in mind that He is the same God, with the same power, and the same faithfulness, no matter what the situation we are facing is. We are the ones who tend to put degrees on what situations God can help us with and what ones are even to big for Him. Sure, we may not say that out loud, but our measure of faith sure does at times. Give us something small to deal with and we will say "Oh, God's got this" every single time. But let it be something big, something huge, maybe even something life changing, and watch to see if the same people will be so quick to have the same response. And I'm not saying that as a slam to anyone, I'm just being real and challenging us to ask ourselves, "why wouldn't God have the big things as much as He does the little. After all, He's God". James 1:2-4 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing". The verse doesn't tell us to count the small things we go though joy, it says count it "all" joy. How can we walk into a situation and say I will face this with joy? Because IF we believe the God is who He says He is, then this is just another opportunity for Him to shine in our lives, increasing our faith, and the faith of those who are watching from the outside. He literally CAN use our bad situations to create good, build up our faith and strengthen us.....the key is, will we let Him?
It can be very easy to get caught up on and focused on the bad. I mean, that is why the enemy is bring bad into your path. He wants to change your focus, shake you up and see if he can get you to fall....or at least stumble. But if we keep laying it at Jesus' feet and say "I believe you will see me through this" then the defeat toward the enemy is already taking place. But let me be very clear in stating that IF passing a test, or overcoming a trial, has to have a certain outcome in your mind, then the enemy may already be lining you up for defeat. Be very careful not to have a picture in your mind of what the outcome needs to look like to call this a victory. God will show you the victory despite the outcome. One of the toughest trials I walked through in my life did not turn out the way I had envisioned, but God created a victory. I gave Him full access to my situation and I put no exceptions on the end result. I prayed for His will to be done and for Him to make my life better because of what I was going through. And not only did He do just that, but He grew me at a time when I could have just thrown in the towel. That statement in not a pat on my own back, it is me testifying to HIS greatness, HIS power, HIS love....and in the end, because I praised Him in my trail, I fully believe I am walking in HIS reward. And I praise Him for that too!
God, thank You that you never leave us nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) You don't just walk through the storms of life with us, but you will carry us if we humble ourselves and let you. Please help those who struggle to give authority over to you during the trials of life. Help them see just how strong you can be when we are week and submit to you. Holy Spirit help us to have eyes to see God's goodness in the midst of the trial and praise His name through it all. In Jesus name, Amen
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