HAVE DIFFICULTIES DESTROYED YOUR OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE?

SCRIPTURE:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those 
who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 
(Romans 8:28)

MEDITATION:
When we are having a tough time, it can seem kind of hollow 
when someone tells us, “It’s going to be okay. Everything will work out.”
It’s not that we don’t appreciate their encouragement, but we have to 
wonder, “How do you know if everything is going to work out okay?”

Do they have some crystal ball that allows them to look into the future?
Do they know the turmoil we are feeling inside?
Do they know the circumstances contributing to our time of trouble?
Their definition of ‘okay’ may be totally different than ours.

Is there anyone who can understand what we are going through, 
and who has the ability to see into the future and know what will happen?
Of course there is – it is God!
It makes sense, doesn’t it?
God created us for a purpose and when we show our love for Him by
pursuing what He wants us to do, then He is not going to allow us to fail.

The Bible tells us that our all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present 
Heavenly Father not only knows our troubles, but will come to our rescue. 
In addition to His understanding of who we are and what we are going 
through, He can arrange any negative situation to produce positive results.
Later, we will be able to see the benefits of what seems bad right now.
 
If Fanny Crosby had not been afflicted with blindness, 
we might have never had any of her songs.
If he had not been blind from his youth, George Matheson might never 
have written the immortal song, “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”.

The familiar “Hallelujah Chorus” that we love to hear, 
was written by George Handel when he was poverty-stricken 
and suffering from a paralyzed right side and right arm. 
All three of these people were called by God for a purpose.
Considering what they accomplished, 
we have to assume that they also loved God.

Affliction may be for our Christian development and spiritual maturity. 
Sickness can be one of the “all things” 
which work together for good to them that love God and are called by Him. 
But for most of us, it can be difficult to look past the illness to the good.
That is when we have to have faith in the Lord and trust Him.

ACTION:
Do you sometimes feel that you are in a tiresome rut 
that feels like a grave with both ends kicked out?
You go through difficult times but never see any benefit from them?
Two questions to ask yourself:
1. Do I love God?
2. Am I doing what He has called me to do?

You might say to yourself, “He hasn’t really called me to do anything”.
That is just not true if you are a child of His.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to 
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, 
to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

God may call you for additional tasks that fit your specific qualifications, 
but He has called every Christian to represent Him in carrying His message 
of hope and salvation, and to tell others what Jesus did for all people.
What are you doing in that regard?
Are you causing people to get closer to the Lord, or father away?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises that You can make everything 
I do valuable and self-gratifying, whenever I love You and actively pursue 
the tasks You have given me. Thank You for assuring me that You will even 
turn bad situations into something beneficial, when I am living a life in 
obedience to You. Help me to develop a new attitude toward the difficult 
times in my life. Show me how to start looking at things in a positive light, 
instead of allowing them to control me, and create in me a negativity that 
could cause me to drift into a state of depression. I look forward to how 
You will change me starting today. Thank You, Jesus, for willfully suffering
affliction for my benefit.”