God keeps showing me so many things! I prayed and asked Him to open my eyes to
things I’ve never seen before. I kind of
meant that I wanted to see angels standing guard outside my doors…things like
that.
Instead, He has answered my prayer
and is showing me attributes that are travesties…he’s showing me things I
haven’t seen or noticed before that need to be changed.
The coolest thing I’m seeing are people that God is madly in
love with! I’m seeing Christian people
who live out of their comfort zone, who are fully invested in God, who seem to
keep experiencing “trials”…I’m seeing those things in a backwards way. The backwards message of the Cross, some have
called it. We typically see God’s
blessings as tons of money, a big house, a nice car. I’m starting to see God’s blessings for what
they really are. Struggles, things that take
you to your knees, illness that doesn’t seem to heal, rains that keep falling…those are the blessings.
Backwards? Yes. Because the trials and the struggles are what
run us straight into God’s arms. And
that’s where He created us to be!! We
seem to take Him out of the equation when life is good. So, to get us where He wants us, trials
abound.
My dad, who is God’s very best friend, has suffered with
shingles for many agonizing months. My heart
breaks for him, but I know God is holding him, so I don’t have to worry about
him. It hurts, but he’s at peace…right
where he’s supposed to be. A dear friend
lost her son before Christmas. The pain
I feel in my heart for her is NOTHING compared to the pain she is feeling. But God has her right in the palm of His hand
where true peace exists, so I know she’s okay.
A friend has come to Grand Forks with nothing but the clothes on his
back. He is experiencing true trials
right now, but as he stated, “This is where God wants me. He wants me to be still and wait for Him to
provide.” The trials are where God
is! Of course, He’s there in your
success and easiness, too, but we don’t lean into Him as deeply during those
times. Have you noticed that?
God has opened my eyes to our apathy. I’m seeing a lot of people who truly just
want to be comfortable, and that to them is more important than doing
uncomfortable things for God’s people or for God's glory.
My house is so comfortable and warm, so I don’t make time for those who
need me outside the walls of my house. Those
are some things I really didn’t want to see when I asked God to show me things
I had never seen before. Those things
make me angry, so I’m going to have to now ask God to show me how to do
something about it, or how to make peace with it. But in the meantime, I’m living outside my
comfort zone. That’s where God is. I hope you’ll view your trials and your
struggles as a gift from God. And if you
can’t see the gift, ask Him to show you.
Step out and realize He is truly all you need!
