No
matter where you are in life there will be challenges. It’s not so much the
problems that beset us but our attitude toward it. When we go through tough times with a positive outlook, it is much more
bearable and even cut short.
Challenges
are a way of life. When one problem is solved another will arise. If we’re
always trying to question God, question people getting all tied up in a knot
over our struggles then our strength is small. How we handle a setback will determine how God will set us up.
There
is a famous story in the Bible when Jesus was asleep in a boat. In the middle
of the sea a great storm arose. The little row boat was about to flip over. The
disciples were scared and frantically woke Jesus up from his sleep. They said, “Jesus, how can you be sleeping? Can’t you
see we’re about to die? Don’t you care?” Jesus did two things. He
challenged them to have more faith in God and then He rebuked the storm. Many
Christians today have faith but they forget to rebuke their storm.
When
you encounter a problem, always remember that it didn’t come to stay but it
came to pass. You may have gone through a series of misfortunes but remember
that your setback is a stepping stone to the next level. Maybe you don’t like
your boss at work. Don’t complain about it. Just know that your current
position will become a stepping stone to take over his job someday. Maybe
you’re waiting tables right now. If you have the right attitude, God will
promote you to be the manager of that place. You may have gone through a bitter
divorce; instead of closing up like a sow bug stay open to be used by God to
minister to other couples and marriages that are going through a rough time. Consider
this: Without Goliath there won’t be David. Without larva breaking free from its
cocoon there will be no butterflies. Without
your trials there will be no greater you! When we look at our setback as
God-ordained set ups then it’s easier to go through a difficult situation with
a positive attitude.
This
is what happened to Ruth. She was a young lady, living in a foreign land.
Suddenly she got news that her husband had been killed. On her own free will,
Ruth decided to follow her mother-in-law Naomi back to Jerusalem. Naomi didn’t
have a lot to offer back home but she had a relative by the name of Boaz. Ruth
was allowed to pick up the left over grains after the reapers. It was a hand to
mouth struggle but Ruth had a stellar attitude. She didn’t complain; she didn’t
blame her bad luck. She knew that her setback was going to turn into a setup.
Sure enough, Boaz began to like Ruth. They fell in love and got married. Imagine!
One day Ruth was working in the field and
in the next day she became the owner of the field. Could it be you?
What
am I saying? The size of your trouble is
an indication of the size of your destiny. Don’t try to pray every
uncomfortable situation away from your life. Your promotion lies within your problem. Remember, a kite always
rises against the wind. You’re born to soar. The problem you’re facing doesn’t
have the power over you. You have the same
power that raised Jesus from the dead residing in you. You’ve got what it
takes. This setback is a test. On the other side of your test is victory and promotion.
Remember, nothing happens to you; everything happens for you!
In
the scriptures, Paul taught Timothy and the church to endure hardship. He
didn’t pray for all their troubles to go away but He prayed that God will make
the people strong. You too my friend, are strong in the Lord. What doesn’t kill
you will only make you strong. The Holy Spirit of God that created the majestic
universe is lives within you as your Helper. Jesus our Lord is personally interceding for you to the Father. God
is staging your comeback! Today, look at your setback as your stepping stone. Where you are is not the end of your story.
You have miles to go. Jesus is in the boat to calm your storm. Like Ruth you
too will go from working in the field to owning the field. Now Rejoice. For the joy of the Lord is our strength. Can
I get a smile now? You look so much better with a smile! I’m praying for you.
“Because you got a
double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance
in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever” (Isaiah 61:7 The
Message).
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