by David Brenneman
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.
"Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27.
Every Christian eventually has an experience that seems totally inconsistent in the life of a child of a loving God. It may involve health, finances, relationships, career, property, or family. Whatever the experience, you will come through it with one nagging question: "Why, Lord?"
That question is acceptable to God; He is not angered by our desire for answers.- Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah.
When you encounter a difficult situation in life that looks impossible, what is the first thing you think? For most people, it is, "Oh Lord, what am I going to do?" But that's the wrong question. Instead, the right thing to ask is, "Lord, what are You going to do?" Because, as we are well aware, He is all-powerful, and nothing is too challenging for Him.
Of course, all of us know that in our minds. But often, when our back is against the wall and we don't know where to turn, we become gripped by the immensity of our predicaments and the disconcerting details that accompany them. It's natural
for us to immediately envision the worst-case scenarios and how helpless we are with our limited resources We become trapped by what we see and hear rather than recall who comes to our aid.
This is why We must train ourselves to look to the Lord rather than our circumstances. Because when we invite the supernatural, powerful presence of the living God to take hold of our situation, He deals with our difficulties in ways far beyond our imagination. He can get us to the right solution regardless of what we face.- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.
A year ago I had been a month into what would be a 10 month hiatus from gainful employment. It certainly would be a time of learning and a time for questioning things in my life.
Only in some respects was it rough. What it did was to draw me closer to my Savior.
I was hit with some certainly unexpected financial news in recent weeks. Was already having a difficult time with one place, and another comes along that's much bigger than the first. It's medical bills. Evidently the person owing is to pay up as soon as possible yet those doing the billing have 6 years to bill you.
It's an easy situation where you want to cry out "Why?!?". It's been these same two devotionals that I continue to read through and it's always amazing that God brings the right things to read at the right time.
We are going to face why moments.
We are not always going to understand the why's behind the things that the Lord chooses to allow in our lives...no more than Job.
Yet we are allowed to ask the question and to seek out His wisdom and guidance to deal with what we face.
Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice is one of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles.
We can choose to mope and have a pity party, do the old woe is me, or we can pray with all honesty to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and expect God to help.
It's really sad to me when people show their entire lack of hope in their lives. They lay claim to believing in God, even in Jesus, yet there's no fruit to show they ever came to Christ for salvation.
Trillions of people are in Hell who believed that Jesus was real, and some even believed everything the Bible said about Him.
Without actually coming to Christ for salvation, without asking Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...you will die in your sins.
This is at the core of living a life that's dependent upon Christ for dealing with these difficult times and situations. Without a right relationship with Jesus, without knowing Him as your Lord and Savior, you're fooling yourself.
I know these things are going to be resolved. I know that nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He was already in today before I got here.
Scripture says He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not just my Savior, He's the Creator. He's the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He is over everything that is and what will be.
He got us through many incredibly big and difficult times and these situations are no different. Satan's minion's aim was to draw us away from God to wallow in self pity, but the reality is God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He allows things because these things draw us to Him.
These medical bills are just another unknown on top of others but slowly things are getting worked out. Sometimes God answers through others, some of the times He has us pick up a shovel to start the digging to move the mountain before He steps in.
We do ourselves much harm by constantly whining, griping and endlessly complaining because we are showing we aren't relying on Christ.
Daily we pray, daily we await His response. Daily we do whatever it is for us to do and daily we thank Him for all He's done and is still doing. Thankful that we do have a Savior who cares intimately about everything to do with us.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.
We will be tempted to go it alone and to try in our own strength and understanding. The wise thing to do is take it to the Lord in prayer.
Look for God in your situation and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 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.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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