God allows troubles in our lives to shape us. (God ALLOWS pain He does not CAUSE it) This is because circumstances develop our character. Not all problems are equal in size, but all are significant in God’s growth process for his children. None of my problems could happen without God’s permission, but he intends to use it for good.
John 16:33- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” He also knows that in our weakness, we must turn to Him for strength. Our most profound/ intimate experiences of worship will likely be in the darkest of days: broken hearted, abandoned, out of options, pain filled- this is when we no longer have the energy for superficial prayers. Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves.
Psalms 34:18- The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever!
Romans 5: 3-4- Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
*Romans 8:28- 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.* Keeping Romans 8:28 in mind, the bible does not say “God causes everything to work out the way I want it to.” Nor does it say: “God causes everything to work out with a happy ending here on earth.” The events in my life “work together” in God’s plan. In A Purpose Driven Life, Rick warren compares various life events to the ingredients of a cake. When baking, you must mix flour, salt, raw eggs, oil, sugar and so on…. Eaten individually, these ingredients are pretty distasteful but combined they are delicious! If you give God all the distasteful experiences of life, He will work them together and create something good.
“For the good”- God Does not promise that everything in life will be good; He uses the bad to become good. One perfect example of this is the family tree of Jesus. In Christ’s lineage, there are 4 women listed:
1) Tamar- seduced her father-in-law to get pregnant
2) Rahab- a prostitute
3) Ruth- Not even Jewish/ Broke the law by marrying a Jewish man
4) Bathsheba- committed adultery with David, which resulted in her husband’s murder
Although this family tree did not have the best reputation, God brought good through their lineage.
1 Peter 1:7- These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. However, problems don’t always produce what God intends. Many people become bitter, rather than better and never grow up. In order to build character, we must respond how Jesus would. The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary and the reward is eternal!
2 Cor. 4:17- For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
James 1:2-3- Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
God tells us to give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. We should thank him for using our pain to fulfill his purpose.
Jer. 29:11- For I know the plans I have for (INSERT NAME),” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper (NAME) and not to harm (NAME), plans to give (NAME) hope and a future.
We will all go through dark tunnels, some longer than others, but God will always provide a light at the end. It may seem like the tunnel you are currently in has no end, this is Satan robbing you of the Hope the Holy Spirit brings. However, we allow Satan to win when we lose focus. During these times of darkness, our faith/ quiet times/ fellowship/ prayer act as our “flashlight” to find our way out of the tunnel. Don’t allow Satan to steal your “spiritual flashlight- your hope.” Instead, thank God for using this dark tunnel to build character, and ask him to guide you through it!
A common tunnel many young people go through is the tunnel of uncertainty. None of us know what the future holds and that can often be scary. Those of you who read my last entry know that I am about to enter an extremely new territory. I am not only making a career change, but also moving a completely new city. I have never truly lived on my own or so far from home. I am pretty certain that I will have to go through several “dark tunnels” to adjust. But I am confident that there is something GREAT at the end of them, and I am excited to see what God has in store!
Today’s challenge: What tunnels are you currently walking through? Are you allowing God to provide you with a “spiritual flashlight?” or has Satan taken it from you? Ask God to give you the strength to get through, we cannot make it on our own.
I also encourage you to connect with someone you trust. This can me a mentor or a close friend, but tell them what you are dealing with and ask them to pray for you. It is amazing what the power of prayer can do! Also, Christ puts people in our lives for comfort. When we open up to someone, it often helps us let go of pain & keeps us accountable.
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