{On my heart} mondays. [Struggles]

 

A dear friend and I were having a conversation this week about why difficult situations happen to people who seem to be truly trying to live for the Lord.

Why is it that if you are trying to glorify Him, suddenly there are things like job loss, home loss, poor health and things totally out of your control.

So I was totally in awe of the Lord when He used Sunday's sermon to speak to me about some things on that same topic.

I Love it when that happens.

When He chooses to reveal Himself to me responding to some pondering thought or question.

Our pastor was preaching on Genesis 50. 

(The church as a whole has spent the last year and some walking through the entire book of Genesis. It has been quite the journey and so thought-provoking.)

I love our pastor's gift for taking a passage I have heard time and time again and shedding new light on something I hadn't thought about before. Same passages, but fresh perspective or new thoughts to ponder. Such a blessing.

Anyway...we were looking at Joseph's life and how he walked through A LOT of difficult situations in his life which probably caused him to question God's sovereignty. Joseph spent 13 years in prison, yet we see his character is full of trust in the Lord. I'm sure he wondered about whether God really did have great plans for him. But as we read, the Lord definitely did! Joseph was a man of integrity who loved the Lord, during the hardships and once he is placed in a position of authority.

Our pastor then pointed out, that if you are living a life sold out for the Lord. Trying desperately to love those around you and serve your community. Of course difficult things are going to happen in your life. Because satan HATES you. 

You are on his 'hit-list' because you are dangerous to him.

He doesn't want to see God's kingdom on earth.

He wants us to be selfish, seek after destructive behaviour and hurt others/ourselves.

So we will be in battle if we are seeking to live a life for God.

That is the reality.

We are not promised an easy life because we love the Lord.

We are promised the opposite actually.

'For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also our comfort abounds through Christ.'

{2 Corinthians 1:5}

'Then he said to them all:  

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves 

and take up their cross daily and follow me.'

{Luke 9:23} 

Although we are not promised an easy life, as 2 Corinthians 1:5 shows we are given comfort from the Lord. He promises us that He has wonderful plans for us, even through all this suffering.

How is that possible?

I can't even begin to comprehend how our God can take what I intend for evil when I hurt someone and make it for their good. Yet that's what He does.

'You intended to harm me, 

but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, 

the saving of many lives.'

Genesis 50:20 

What I felt the Lord saying to me this weekend, is that it is a good thing to be experiencing trials at times. 

Though they may be hard, they grow us. They strengthen our faith.

They also show signs of good spiritual health in these situations.

While we are struggling, we are in the battle.

(The battle that has already been won.)

He works these things for good. Even if we don't see it for a time.

The victory is the Lord's.

(Sorry for the jumble of random thoughts.)

Hope it is encouraging at least.

Much Love,

L