by David Brenneman
Life Principle 7: The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
If you want God’s best for your life and desire to be used by Him, at some point you’ll have to travel the road of adversity. This means that God can and will use adversity in your life for a good purpose—and yet, sadly, many people view adversity as only negative and defeating. But you don’t have to be among them.
God has designed adversity, regardless of its source, to become a turning point from which you take your greatest leaps forward in spiritual growth. He allows adversity to remain in your life only until He accomplishes His purpose in you. He will not keep it in your life one second longer than is necessary.
- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles
It's rather interesting and a Godinstance (I don't believe in coincidences) that the day after some sideways news that this is the next Life Principle in my online devotional that covers the 30 that there are.
Yesterday, long before things did go sideways, a song by Elevation Worship called "I Trust in God" was playing on that record player in my mind.
It's also no coincidence that a different particular Life Principle has been repeating in my mind as well: Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice.
What do we do when most of your experience is equating discouragement with Disappointment?
"Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:1-6.
Don't miss that last line.
I have reached out to several people to ask the question: Just what did David do to strengthen himself?
Then this week has happened.
Moreover I think Jesus is saying "here, let me show you".
In my position as a trainer for all incoming new employees for the Foil Pressure Department at Sensotec, later to become part of Honeywell, I learned that people really do not learn in the same way.
Some learn by seeing and hearing only and can easily repeat.
Some learn by doing after hearing.
Some require both.
So it's with a profound sadness that our manufacturing world believes that anyone can be taught in a single way to learn any position.
But that's not the point of where this is leading.
My Great Shepherd knows how I learn. Just as He knows how you learn. Being brutally honest, sheep are dumb animals. They never ever consider their environment or their need to think ahead or even about what consequences come from their choices.
I am a sheep in His pastures. If you are saved in Christ Jesus so are you.
I believe that this strengthening ourselves in the Lord has everything to do with some of the very same topics that the Spirit has lead me to write about in recent months.
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9.
"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
It does take a firm decision to stand firm in the Lord.
As of yesterday we're facing some unknowns and we're facing some knowns that CAN be quite frightening. Family that's injured as of yesterday. Getting news yesterday of an unpaid week from my employer. Further news from weeks ago of business decisions that will impact everyone where I work. Appliances possibly breaking down. Vehicles needing repairs.
Adversity for sure. Yet. In this God will be glorified.
As my Wife and I spoke yesterday Jesus has never failed us yet.
This is the beginning of seeing through adversity and strengthening in the Lord: Remembering who's we are.
Remembering His past provision.
Remembering His past protection.
Remembering that we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Remembering that our strength isn't of this world.
Remembering that His plans don't need to make sense.
Remembering that He's not obligated to explain the why behind what we're going through.
Remembering that...the list can go on.
What is required of me and you?
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.
We can stay close to our Shepherd or go it alone and wallow in all kinds of negative things.
David was known as a man after God's own heart. Jesus displayed the same thing as David. Strengthened by His Father in Heaven. Jesus strengthened Himself in God.
I don't know how we will navigate these rough waters. I just know who's directing the boat through those waters.
He will do what He's always done.
Set things before me to be doing and it's on me to do them.
He will set things before you to be doing and it's on you to be doing them.
Even in adversity.
Even when life gives every appearance of falling apart.
Even when understanding is far away.
Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus is still my Personal Lord and Savior.
Jesus is still my provider and my protection.
Jesus is still the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.
Jesus is still my Great Shepherd.
Jesus.
Not me, myself and I.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.
Regardless of what is going on in our lives we are still to be a light shining in this present darkness.
We are still representing Christ to a lost world.
We are still in His hands and no one or nothing, not even ourselves, can take us from that place.
I think all these things answer that question: What did David do to strengthen himself in the Lord?
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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