So my last blog talked about facing challenges and looking at them as God ordained opportunities instead of something to fear. Another topic that I’ve been gaining understanding in has to do with God’s will for our lives.
Although this thought process has some truth behind it, it’s actually pretty flawed. If you look at most stories in the bible, the disciples were called go wherever the Lord told them to go, to preach wherever and to whomever Jesus told them to preach to. I would imagine this would be pretty challenging for them as they set out on their ventures. He didn’t tell them what would happen once they arrived, how the people would react or let them know what things would look like at the end of the day.
He created each and every one of us for a specific purpose. If you take some time to listen, He’ll tell you what that is. It’s unrealistic to believe that one day out of the blue, it will just come to you. It’s most likely going to be a step by step, day by day refining of yourself so that you can grow into whatever He has prepared for you. This is another reason why challenges can be so beneficial in life. They’re preparing you for what’s to come. The hardest parts of my life have been the biggest times of growth which have indefinitely prepared me for what the Lord had for me down the road- which of course in the moment, I couldn’t have known.
*** I’d recommend downloading the sermon, ‘Opportunity of Weaknesses’ by Lee Lewis from the Village Church website when you get a moment. Definitely worth your time.***
Look at the relationship of God and us in relation to a parent raising their child. When parents are raising their children, they want them to learn patience, to share, to be kind, to be safe, etc. In order to do this, they sometimes have to say ‘no’ when their kids want candy before dinner or when they have to turn the tv off when it’s a beautiful day outside or when they make them go to bed even though they rather stay up late. Parents don’t do this to punish their kids or to take joy away from them. They do this in their children’s best interest. God is our Father. He uses this same method when teaching us what we need to learn to grow into the people He’s made us to be. He does this out of love just like many of you teach your children hard lessons that are done out of love.
I don’t have my bible on me, but read Psalm 121 – *I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Creator heaven and earth* (or something along those lines)
When we are faced with challenges, we should look only to the Lord to help us through them. If we’re looking to other people or quick fixes to make our problems go away, they will only be temporary fixes and will only last so long. Some of the hardest times we face have the most opportunity for growth, growth that can only take place by a change of heart. Those areas of growth can only come from the Lord.
Living in our weaknesses shows our desperate need to depend on the Lord. Suffering shows the greatest desperation for Him. Seek Him out in those times. In Jeremiah 29: 13 (I think- like I said, no Bible), *Seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart.* When you’re looking to Him, He will be there. He’s actually probably been waiting for you to turn to Him all along. The great part about Him is that He’s not going to get tired of waiting no matter how long it might take.
