Isaiah 43:2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
While l don’t know of anyone who sits around waiting with great anticipation for struggles and storms in life to come, we must learn to see these times as times to grow, to be strengthened, to shine as God sustains and brings us through it. Believe me I would prefer to live the rest of my days on a mountain top with the sun shining all the time, but unfortunately that is just not reality here on earth and that is not typically what drives us closer to Him. Satan has brought tremendous evil into the world and we are all paying the price, but Jesus has overcome, and satan’s day is coming soon. (Ephesians 6)
Take just a moment and let’s think back over history and lets think of some of the great people whose lives have made a difference:
Noah ~ spent 100 years building a boat, speaking of rain that no one had ever seen while he trusted God and everyone around him thought he had lost his mind… his obedience saved his family and he is father to all who live on the earth.
Joseph ~ sold by his own brothers into slavery, then thrown in prison for something he never did…Became 2nd only to Pharaoh ruling the land of Egypt which saved his family from the famine that came to all of the land!
David ~ spent years running for his life from King Saul, and later his own son…He became king and is honored by God for his faith in God in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego ~ thrown in the fire…they came out and didn’t even smell like smoke.
Daniel ~ thrown in the Lion’s den… God shut the lion’s mouths and Daniel went on to write prophecy
Corrie Ten Boom ~ Survived Nazi Prison Camp…has been used by God in a tremendous way because of her testimony.
James Elliot ~ Killed by the natives he was going to minister to…His testimony has lived on and his wife Elisabeth went back to those same natives and won them to the Lord.
Joni Eareckson Tada ~ Paralyzed from the shoulders down at 17 years old…has written over 40 books and has reached multitudes with her testimony.
God used their stories to reach others. Those men and women are still being used to draw people to God and to encourage us, but it cost them something.
I have no idea what you may be facing today but God wants to use you and your story! Now, take a look again at that small list (there are way too many to list them all obviously) and notice ~ None of them retaliated instead they responded with the love of God! The didn’t pursue vindicating themselves, they pursued God! Their goal was to serve and glorify God, regardless of what was going on or the outcome and God used them and brought them through. They were not made out of some sort of special mud. They all had their moments in life, but God moved in their lives and He worked it all for good! He used these people in a mighty way and it was because they put their “yes” to Him on that table and served Him! Satan wants to make you doubt that you can be used by God and he will throw everything he possibly can at you to stop you, but God is promising to take all that has, is, and will come your way and use it for His glory if you will just give it to Him. You cannot do it in your own strength, it requires that you fully rely on Him. He will give you the strength, confidence, grace, mercy and love you need to do all He has called you to do! Remember ~ He has a plan…Jeremiah 29:11-13.
I am going to wrap this Mini-series up with this ~ here’s a poem written by Grant Colfax Tuller:
“My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me;
I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the under side.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.”
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