Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes wrong? What about one of those weeks, where every day is one big blur and nothing seems to work out? You may look back over the last 12 months and just see disaster after disaster happening and all is totally out of your control? I think most of us can relate to one or two of these at least. So, what can we do when things like this happen, and how do we react? How do we develop a coping strategy to get us through rather than allowing it to defeat or destroy us?
I can honestly say the last two weeks for me has been one difficulty after another. It seems that whatever I put my hand to has not gone right. Then I looked to Psalm 1 that says that if we follow the Lord we will have success.
I felt that I’ve been following the Lord, however, I haven’t prospered over the last two weeks. So whats is going on? Then I think to myself, well perhaps Gods’ level of success and prospering isn’t the same as mine. Maybe I’m measuring success on a totally different scale and I come up with a distorted view of the circumstances of the last two weeks. And then I read in the Bible about how testing produces good character. And how God disciplines those he loves. looking at my circumstances – I think wow- I must have a lot more good character to produce! But don’t we all? when I prayed ‘Lord make me like Jesus’ God who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit took me seriously! If we pray those kind of prayers they will be answered and God sets to work on our character- what else can we expect?
New Living T.
James 1:3 – For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow.
Proverbs 3:12– For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
From that point of view, when I look over the last two weeks, I can see the guidance of God because I slipped off of the path – oh so very slightly and did not notice it. It was so subtle, but significant and difficult circumstances brought me to my knees before God which got me back on track. I realise now, that I was disciplined by my heavenly Father who loves me by allowing adverse situations in my life that made me seek God to even deeper him to reveal to me where things have gone wrong. But I didn’t like it at the time.
So firstly , when things go wrong, look to the word of God to try to get the right perspective of your situation. Like me, you may have found that is a time of testing or discipline. Or just bad luck or something else entirely. You need to discern the situation rightly and not just assume it Gods testing you’re under. However, with the guidance of the Scriptures you will see your way through. You will see your circumstances from the right perspective as you ask the Lord to open your eyes the truth of the event.
Secondly, Philippians 4: 13 says I can do all things through him who strengthens me. But that’s no good if all things you are pursuing are not what you are supposed to be doing. Sometimes you get burnt out because your pushing in the wrong direction. This is when you can get confused, and want to give up trusting in God, thinking hes not on your side. Not that following Jesus always goes smoothly, because it certainly doesn’t. You will be persecuted for your faith in Christ. There are many trials and tribulations if we seriously and faithfully follow Jesus . But God will supply you with an inner strength so you feel like there is wind underneath your wings and you know that we will reach your goal in God’s power.
Matthew 10:22– And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
Thirdly and lastly, we need to measure our success and prosperity on the same level as God measures success and prosperity. God succeeded eradicating sins power through the death of Jesus. On the outside it looked like a colossal defeat, and people at the time of its happening thought so. However, when the resurrection and ascension happened, they knew that Jesus death brought life for all, so God had succeeded after all. So don’t measure your success by cultural or worldly success or perhaps your own personal estimation. Study the Bible and see how God does things, find how God succeeds and how God sees, so you can see the same way.
I pray that you will prosper and succeed even as your soul prospers. If you are experiencing persecution at this time, I pray that Father God will give you wisdom and the grace to endure and win though in the love of Jesus .
If you are going through a difficult time, email your prayer request, and I will pray for you.
Remember, Live Life on Purpose in Faith, Hope & Love !
Paula 💕
info@paularoseparishministries.org
Hope. Faith. Love. 