Weather Report From Heaven: Sunny and bright, with an abundance of light and lots of singing and rejoicing.
Scripture- “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”- Psalm 34:3
We should remember each day to be humble and to thank God for all things. For it is from Him that all things are given. But let’s face, life is often filled with painful experiences, whether it is a loss of a job, a house or other earthly possessions, a painful divorce, or a bad diagnosis from the Doctor. At these moments, thanking God or being thankful in general can be the furthest thing from our minds. We often fall into a place of despair and separation from God can easily take place. We may even feel like blaming God when things are going against us in our lives. But we must remember that there is always a purpose in our various trials, and ultimately they are opportunities to draw closer to God, rather than running away from Him.
In the book “In A Pit With A Lion on A Snowy Day”, the Author, Mark Batterson, reminds us that when we face trials, how we respond is critical to how much we grow through our trials. He says it is imperative that when facing adversity, that we stop focusing on what is wrong with us, and instead we focus on what is right with God. God is good always and wants what is best for us. Sometimes we have a hard time letting go of our independence and trusting in our dependence upon him, especially in tough times or difficult trials in our life. But our ability to be filled with gratitude even during our suffering is the gateway to our greater dependence upon Him in all areas of our life and can ultimately lead to living a less stressful life as we gain the deeper knowledge of who is really in control.
Ever since Eve reached for the fruit in the Garden, we have been reaching for our independence from God. Sometimes God uses trials and hardships to shake us enough that we realize that our ways are not the best ways. Only through letting go and letting God transform us during our trials can we begin to reach the enlightenment that we seek. When we recognize His ability to transform our suffering into something beautiful on the other side is when we can begin to praise Him no matter what, even during those painful periods. Clergyman Henry Ward Beecher said “A humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow.” When life hands us humble pie, many chose to run from God in the exact moment they should run towards Him. I know this can be hard, but it is the best way to go from suffering to enlightenment. God will not waste our pain, and He will use it to deepen our faith and dependence on Him.
Prayer: Father God, this life can be so hard, and we get knocked down a lot. Help us to get back up and depend even more on You during the toughest periods in our life. You are the solid rock on which we can find firm footing. Amen!
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