Skip to main content

Unfavorable Situations

There is no way to avoid being hurt, betrayed, lied to, mistreated, abused, accused, etc.  Jesus experienced it. Paul experienced it.  Many others were overlooked, taken for granted, cheated and wronged. So, because there is no way to avoid life's unfavorable situations, what do you do when you experience them?

As long as we keep our eyes on the prize, we can endure it.  We go through the muck and grime of life, and know that at those times we are being watched and called upon to endure it accordingly: "Rejoice always. Pray continually.  Give thanks, in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Always? Continually? In all circumstances?  That's a tall order, but an order nonetheless.  Here is where the maturity of Job kicks in, "shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 As he was being tested, mistreated, abused, broken and robbed (because Satan thought it was appropriate - not because Job had somehow deserved it - mind you)..."in all this he did sin in what he said."

Sometimes we go through difficulties in life and think I must be being punished for all those years I didn't do the right thing.  But the Bible says that, "therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:1) so, please don't believe the lie that your Heavenly Father is that cruel or vindictive.  He will save you and remember your past no more.  Your trials can just be because Satan thinks you're too cool for school and he wants to get in your business and run a muck just to see if you love God as much as you say you do.  Don't let him get a second of gratification.  You DO love God as much as you say you do!!

Rejoice always: Yes, even when it seems impossible.

Pray continually: because then you can draw on the strength of God and receive his help and grace in that time.  He promises to be a very present help in times of trouble.  Psalm 46:1.

Give thanks in all circumstances: Yes, even the unfavorable ones. Why? Because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding the buyer

When I found this scripture in the Bible, I started laughing so hard.   It was there, waiting on me to become a professional real estate agent, so I would actually understand it. “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer; then off he goes to boast about his purchase.” Proverbs 20:14 (NIV). “The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!” (NLT). Hilarious.   All of my real estate agents know what I’m talking about.   We have buyers like this.   We have seen this first hand.   This morning I grabbed my Bible, looking for it’s truths to touch my life and help me along my day, and I found this.   It just goes to show that when people start saying that the Bible is outdated and doesn’t deal with the issues of today.   Or when they say they can’t get specifics, everything is generalities and we have to come up with our own understanding.   This is how God responds to that! ...

He who has ears let him hear

I can't help but think that I'm the seed that fell among the thorns, but the worries and cares of this world, and the chasing after wealth and position choked the good life out of the seed that was planted in me. Let me explain:  In Matthew 13, Jesus is speaking in parables about the sower who plants his seed along the path, some of it gets eaten up by birds, some of it falls on rocky places and does not take root so it doesn't survive.  Some of it falls among the thorns and gets choked by those thorns and some fall on good soil, takes root, and produces a crop.  He goes on in verse 22 to explain the parable further. Can I be honest here?  I feel like there is so much more I could be doing for God.  I know He doesn't require much from us, and that's why I think we are so easily able to dismiss the great commission, but out of the love in my heart, I want to do more for Him.  Listen, it's not necessarily what we can do for God when we give him space in o...

Why does God do it? Why does God put up with us?

We are some of the worst friends, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters.  We're so cynical and skeptical, that if someone is being "too nice" to us, we get suspicious that they want something from us.  We ask, "why is this person being so nice? I wonder what she wants?"  We can't fathom that someone would be extremely nice to us without having some type of agenda.  I think a lot of us look at God with that same sideways skepticism. Like, okay, so He sent His son to die on a cross for my sins, so that I might be saved.  And all He wants from me is to accept His salvation and allow Him to come into my heart? "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his gra...