BELIEVE SCRIPTURE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Depending on your response, trials can be God’s greatest means of building faith or an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you’ll believe what Scripture says and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through adversity.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Grateful for Dr. Charles’ perspective.

For he is right.

Adversity faced without faith can be crippling and can certainly create an avenue leading to self-pity, disappointment. and discouragement especially when the adversity felt or experienced feels like it is/was unmerited.

That is when it is hard.  

So, hard.

Why is this happening?

What did I do to deserve this?

What is the point?

How did things get here?

This week has been especially tough for some of my closest folks. And when chatting, counseling, and in some cases consoling, I have LEANED hard on scripture as Dr. Charles suggests.

God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19 (ERV)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV)

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you…1 Peter 5:10(AMP)

I especially like the last verse from 1 Peter.

“After the suffering” connotes IT (the adversity) WILL END.

So, we can always cling to the promise that the adversity, however intense, unfair, unwarranted, or unexpected has a shelf-life; an expiration date.  And once that expires, much like the Lord did for JESUS after His test ((After)…The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs. – Matthew 4:11 (MSG)), the LORD will provide the restoration, will reconfirm us as His own, His beloved.  He will infuse strength.  He will re-establish us.

So, for my friends who have had their plans upended by unfair means, GOD via HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR will restore you.  For those who have been disenfranchised, GOD via HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR will re-confirm your worth and your value.  For those who have been weakened by the adverse pressure, GOD via HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR promises strength is coming.  For those who may have had the rug pulled out or need a new opportunity, GOD via HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR will re-establish you and open that next door.

Helen Keller once said, (Even though) “All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.”

And that is true thanks to the LORD, HIS BLESSING, HIS FAVOR, and HIS WORD!

Have a BLESSED WEEKEND!

I love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE