Sometimes God permits things to touch our lives. Financial ruin, loss of work, sickness and often death of kin and friends. As a believer, I trust that my Heavenly Father has His hand on me and that He wants the very best for me. Even so, pain and worry still come.
Would we call the pains, the worry, humiliation and sickness, blessings or curses? First of all, I don’t feel that God curses His children. I do believe that like any good parent He may have to place us in time out and render disciplinary measures to bring us back in His will. He will pull us out of our comfortable place and push us to limits we have never reached before in order to bless us.
Joseph and Job come to mind. Each had a heart for God, suffered greatly, but then came the blessings. On those days we are caring for children with problems, waiting in a doctor’s office, lying in a hospital bed, looking for work, trying to figure a way to come out of financial ruin or the most difficult, planning a memorial service, it does not feel that we are in line for a blessing. It may not be immediately evident, but God will bring victory through our difficult days. He will enable us to be a witness to His love for us and that we did come through the storm in victory. We can attest and name our battle and our blessings and in so doing, encourage others.
Scripture for Today:
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Job 42:The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.
Prayer for Today:
Hello Father! Thank you that you hear our prayers and that you answer. Father, though our day may be filled with difficulties, let us understand that our blessings are coming through the fire of our trial. Because you are victorious, we are victors. Drop the scales of doubt and fear from our eyes and hearts. Please awaken us to the changes you need to see in us. Father, please make us stronger and able to bless others with the work you have done in us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.