DISTRESS THE WONDERFUL CATALYST


Christ is the greatest example, bar none, of God's ability to turn things around, to deliver victory even in the throes of certain defeat. That which appears to signify failure and defeat in your life can actually become the foundation of a new life for you. Your difficulties can serve a purpose in your life — a purpose that serves you and brings glory to God.

When you're facing hard times, you may be tempted to pray less. Praying less, however, won't help you. You need to pray more. You need to spend more time with God. You need to spend more time in the Word. God wants you to learn to trust him. You cannot trust him when you're avoiding him. Spend time with him, talking to him about your life. “In my distress I prayed to the Lord.” (Psalm 118:5a)

God wants your hard times to bring you closer to him. God desires to be in a relationship with you. Friendship is the word Jesus used to describe our relationship. He wants to have fellowship with you, day-in, day-out.  If you're in the middle of a mess, let this situation be a catalyst in your life to bring you closer to him — not just for the duration of the situation, but for the duration of your existence.

Please let me encourage you to talk to God about your situation so that you can connect with him—so that you can bond with him, so that you can develop a genuine, deep, intimate, abiding relationship with him. That's what he's after. And that's what can bring you the most satisfaction in life. It puts you where God needs you to be in order to do the work he wants to do in your life. You can count on him. He will do it. When you trust him there will be changes taking place in your life—changes that will cause you to say, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” (Psalm 118:23)

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