- Obeying God doesn't exempt you from trouble. Don't expect the world to always understand or appreciate you. Look at Christ.
- You're not alone, God is with you in your troubles. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace he said, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the forth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Instead of destroying them, the fire burned the ropes that bound them and set them free. So be encouraged. It may feel like you're "Bound by circumstance," limited and locked in, but God is with you; He's going to vindicate you and bring you out victorious.
- Your trouble will become your testimony. Others are watching. What they're trusting in doesn't work, and they're wondering if what you're trusting in does. Your faithfulness to God and His intervention on your behalf, will touch their lives in ways your theology never will. Everybody in Babylon knew what the three Hebrew children believed, but they wanted to know, "Does it work when you're in the fire?" IT DOES!
- On the other side of your trouble, there's great blessing. "Then the king promoted Shadrach Meshack & Abednego in the province of Babylon" (Daniel 3:30). It's a Scriptural principle; when you are faithful in a hard place. God can trust you in a high place.
Father, God, I worship and adore You because You and You alone are worthy. How wonderful is Your word and Your loving kindness toward us. In these uncertain times, thank You for the reminder that You are always presence for Your children. I heard it said recently that sometimes Christ calmed the storm but other times He calmed His disciples. Thank You for calming me and every reader when storms of uncertainty, storms of finances, storms of addictions, storms of relationships rage with peace that surpasses understanding. In Jesus precious, holy and powerful name I pray. Amen
3 comments:
JC, this is a powerful message. Very well posted. Thanks.
Love you, Bethy
I FORGOT! I'm sorry - but I see you made it pretty.
And not only does it LOOK great, but your post is awesome. You always make me think JC. God puts people in our life to minister to us on what we need to hear. He is using YOU and Tiz in my life in a mighty way.
I love you!
There is one more thing that this makes me think of. I have been reticent to share certain things while blogging because I don't want to be negative... I don't want to share burdens very often because I feel like I need to be UP, and happy all of the time. Maybe to make other folks happy. The part about our troubles being our testimony and the world watching how we cope with certain things... makes me wonder if I should share more openly on my blog my feelings.
I had a BAD case of the blues due to life and other stuff that I started writing about. I saved the post to my drafts. I posted something inane that didn't really do anything for me OR for my readers. It just WAS. I think now... maybe God could have used that as a witness. Maybe I should be more honest about the down times so that God can be revealed in my life more.
Like I said JC, you always make me think.
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