YOU MADE IT! That's right... Regardless of how challenging 2016 may have been, you have officially made it to 2017. I don't know about you, but I am excited about that. 2016 was filled with highs and lows for a lot of people, including me, so don't feel like you're alone. But that year has passed and we've begun anew.
I've always loved New Years! My church has a Watch Night Service every year that begins at 10pm and is filled with testimonies, songs, praying and preaching. It's like a grand finale for the passing year and a grand opening for the new year. As we embrace the transition from one calendar year into another, I feel the excitement to embrace newness.
I just wanted to encourage you not to associate God's character with any circumstance going on in your life. We are often so quick to say that God is good when things are going well. And then we question God's goodness when things aren't going so well in our lives. God is good all the time.
He is good even when your bank account looks empty.
He is good even when your test results don't come back as well as you wanted.
He is good even when you're having car trouble.
He is good even when your children are misbehaving.
He is good even when your friends turn their back on you.
He is good even when you lose your car.
He is good even when you lose your house.
He is good even when you lose your job.
How do I know that? Well, here are a few things I have found comfort in from God's Word:
1) God knows what you need. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." - Matthew 6:7-8
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation where someone is going on and on and on about something? Then before you know you you've missed a very important detail because you zoned out. I'm not saying God zones out on us... but, I am saying that God knows what we need before we ask. Our prayer can show our faith, but it doesn't inform God of anything he doesn't already know.
When you pray, pray in faith. Don't pray in fear that He doesn't hear or doesn't know.
2) God will provide. "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19
We may lose things in life. Friends, money, jobs, homes, etc. But, at the end of the day, we have to trust that God will supply what we need and it won't be late. I repeat, it won't be late, because God's timing is always perfect. Sometimes the Lord allows us to lose the things that we think we need to show us that what we really need is Him. I remember one week my vehicle was down and I was so frustrated because I didn't have the money I needed to fix my car. What I thought I needed was my car, but what I really needed was to be humbled so I could embrace the help of others. I lost a friend and the Lord really wanted to show me that He is my friend.
When you suffer a loss, ask God to open your eyes to what He wants you to gain and/or other ways He has already provided instead.
3) God will put the pieces of your life together. "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." - Romans 8:28
That's right. It may seem hard to believe, but even when the pieces of your life are scattered all around you, God will cause all things to work together for your good! There's nothing that God cannot use in your life. There's no tragedy or triumph that cannot be used for your good and for God's glory. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers in the book of Genesis, he nor them had any idea that later what they meant for evil God would use for good. Glory to God! No matter what is going on, God can and will get the glory out of it. Don't try to make sense of it. Let God handle it in His own timing.
When things fall apart, trust that God will put it all together.
"Lord, help us to rest in your goodness. Help us to be anchored and held together by your goodness alone. Help us to not associate your goodness with our circumstances, so that our thoughts and convictions about you will never be fickle or childlike. Help us to be strong in you. In Jesus Name. Amen."
I hope that this encouraged you somehow. If you have any prayer requests, feel free to send them to rlavletteb93@gmail.com or comment them below.
Find me on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Take a moment to say Hi! God bless you.
Ricki
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment