Autumn is that time of year when the weather is unpredictable. The temperature could be in the 90’s one week and the next week dip into the 60’s. It’s a signal to pull out jackets and warmer clothing and stock up on hot chocolate. However, summer clothes can’t be stored just yet because next week will probably not be sweater-weather.
I like how this season reminds us that life is not predictable no matter how much we work to make it so. We must always remember where our dependency and faith lie.
Yesterday we talked about what God wants us to add to our lives to make sure that unforgiveness doesn’t have a stronghold. If you missed that post, click here.
I am the type of person who loves things to remain the same. I dislike change and impromptu anything. Once I’ve designed a space, it stays that way forever. I tend to apply the same to my spiritual walk: I get the concepts down pat, invite the right spirits into my life, buckle down on making the Christian Walk a habit and lifestyle and then I expect for things to go smoothly from that point on.
And when life happens, because it does to us all, I cry out in frustration to God, “Why is this happening? I’ve checked all the right boxes; I’m living right and nothing like THIS was supposed to happen to me!”
Can you relate? I hope some of you can; it will make me normal.
The umpteenth time this happened God decided I needed a Word from Him, so He dropped it as a daily scripture read on one of my apps. It’s found in John 16:33
“In the world ye shall have tribulation…”
Jesus didn’t say, “You might have,” “You could have,” or “There’s a chance,” that we will have tribulation. He didn’t sugar-coat it. He said we shall have tribulation. I have to say it deflated any ideals I had that life would be all roses and sunshine.
My friend, I invite you to be saved if you’re not. I invite you to experience a deeper consecration to God if you haven’t already. I invite you to add virtues to your life, strengthen your convictions through knowledge and understanding.
But none of this will protect you from trouble and sorrow. We do not become immune to tribulation because it is not a condition or disease. It’s a ladder, steppingstones, a bridge, etc. that takes us from here to there. The ‘here’ is what we are experiencing now and the ‘there’ is a place we would most likely not have chosen for our lives. For example, when a loved one dies, grief is the tribulation we experience and many times it changes the trajectory of our lives. Or when we unexpectedly lose a source of income that cannot be easily replaced and we find ourselves struggling financially.
The rest of what Jesus said changes our perspective from dread into joy. He said:
“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
We are not left hopeless and destitute. In fact, Paul said, “We are pressured in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted; struck down, but never destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 (amplified)
How is this possible? Have you ever heard the phrase "It’s who you know?” Being able to be okay when life is hitting hard, is knowing Jesus Christ and Him working inside of you.
Knowing God is in control has taken a lot of the fear out of the unexpected ouchies; or I’m now in the Que Sera Sera mode where whatever will be, will be.
The Lord has a way of making life interesting and causing you to hang on for dear life. And as much as I’d love to live in tranquility, I look back over the chaos and realize I would have missed out on so much. I would have missed the ocean sunsets, the smiles in the middle of the night, the memories engraved on my heart, knowing the need for a haven, hilltop views and valley heatwaves…. on and on I could go and so can you...
Do you remember the parable Jesus told of the 2 houses that faced the same storm? If not, it’s found in Matthew 7. One house survived the storm while the other didn’t. The difference wasn’t the storm, but the foundation; what the house was built on and what it was made of. I want to encourage you in this: the same storms come to us all. Don’t use your energies to run from them, but to prepare for them.
We must not spend our time avoiding but living. Our goal is not to stop life from happening but to learn how to ride the waves. There is a time for everything: grief, happiness, love, hate, rain, sunshine, etc. Living through grief has made me compassionate and tender. Experiencing rejection has made me resilient and more dependent on God as my source. Not having enough money at times to pay the bills and put food on the table motivated me toward frugality and opened my heart to the needs of others.
You too can look back and see that tribulations have worked for your good. This needs to be our response when troubles and sorrows come our way,
“Make it work for my good.”
One time I was going through a really hard time. I didn’t think I would make it; in fact, the circumstance looked hopeless. I found a nugget in the Bible: Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
Joy is more fulfilling than happiness or good times. It’s a deep-seated okay-ness no matter what is happening in my life. I found it to be a steady constant. I surprised to realize that most of the time joy wasn't a feeling but rather a knowledge. Joy kept me seeing God as good, faithful, true, holy, etc. Joy would stop negative stops from overwhelming me.
I encourage you to allow the Lord’s joy to be your strength today and always. I encourage to find moments in the hard times to learn & grow. I encourage you to dig deep in preparation when life is going well.
I like knowing that even though life can be unpredicatable, we have a predictable God who stays the same. If we hang on for dear life, He promised we wouldn't be destroyed.
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