Every mature believer knows that when we walk through a valley of tears, “God walks beside us.”

God is closest, when we are in the crisis and storm, surrounding us with His presence. He has promised this!

When we try to navigate life’s troubled waters, God is not only the Master of the waves – He is also Master of the ship. He never abandons us. He will see the our journey through to its final destination, (Philippians 1:6).

But often, we are stubborn creatures who struggle and are very slow to learn. We actually learn the least when the sun is shining and when the winds are light and simply a pleasant breeze.

Peace and abundant prosperity have never provided to be effective classrooms for training and reigning in life. Crisis and catastrophe on the other hand, offer “Master’s Degrees” – that makes you and I a “Master of Disaster.” It is the School of Hard Knocks!

Through it all, He is working all things together for our good, (Romans 8:28). It is absolutely required that we cling to His promise of the continual perfecting of our faith! – Be totally confident of this! (Philippians 1:6)

No matter what, you must never forget that when you are in the deep and dark mist of trouble, God is still busy doing work in you (Philippians 2:13), though He may be doing it all out of your range of vision.

When we realize that He is in control, we are filled with joyful relief and we are greatly comforted. When we come to the sobering realization that our resources are fully used up, that is when we learn that God is more than a refuge – He is also our strength.

Just place a “God at Work” sign into that scar where your troubles have taken their toll – He is involved in a very expensive renovation. He is perfecting you. You may be paying the bill up front, but you are going to like the beautiful new design and “upgrades” that He is fashioning out of your life.

When we begin to look at our difficulties from the examples in the psalms, our depression fades; our hope grows and our love for God is intensified. David’s final cry to God at one point was that God, “Keep up the good work in me!” (Psalm 138:8). “Lord, continue the work you have begun in me!”

Don’t gripe, grouse, grump and develop a hard heart. It paralyzes you and alienates those who could weather the hard time with you. Above all, let it never be said of you that you became cold and indifferent to the losses, sufferings or difficulties of others around you.

Allow the firm conviction of the Holy Spirit to break up once and for all, those critical and condescending attitudes, and permit the fresh flow of humility to cleanse you from presuming to understand and judging the battles others are fighting.

Humility and spiritual sobriety are attractive attributes of a broken and storm weathered believer.

What we receive and mature in from disturbing and difficult moments depends upon how we respond.

“Why this, Lord?” you might ask. “Why now? Why not later? Why not someone else?”

We all ask the WHY questions. They are a natural part of being human.

But we can ask better questions – we can ask WHAT questions:

“What Lord?”

“What would You have me do?

“What are You trying to teach me?”

Take a few minutes to chew and ponder over the words of Psalm 71 (vs. 1-27)

• In You, O LORD, I put my trust…..
• Incline Your ear to me, and save me……
• Do not cast me off in the time of old age…..
• Do not forsake me when my strength fails…..
• O my God, make haste to help me…..
• You, who have shown me great and severe troubles…..
• Bring me up again from the depths of the earth…..
• And I shall speak of Your righteousness all the day long…..

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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