Bad things happen. Small, annoying, everyday things. Paul had his "thorn in the flesh" that buffeted him daily. Big, life shattering, ground beneath your feet crumbling things. Habakkuk spoke of complete spoke of utter desperation and emptiness. Yet both had something in common. Neither let their troubles come between them and God.
So often, when things happen we tend to blame God. My sore spot is the little annoyances of life. I get mad at God for allowing so many little problems throughout the day. How often I've heard myself cry out, "Why can't anything be easy!?!?" And I get mad at the Lord. Does this sound familiar to you?
As I was doing my study in the "Pilgrim's Progress" a question was asked about the intentions of the Devil. And one of the answer was he seeks to divide us and our Lord. He seeks to get us questioning God's love and care causing us to turn away from our heavenly Father in anger.
James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I'm looking at it this way: When trouble comes I have two choices. Submit to God, or submit to the devil. If I get frustrated and angry when problems come, then I am submitting to Satan, bowing before him in defeat and acceptance. My heart is turned from Jesus, and filled with bitterness, mistrust and resentment. But if I resist the temptation to become mad at the Lord, if I submit to Him, remembering His perfect love and perfect wisdom, then I am living in victorious submission to my loving Father. I am in union with Him and that just works. My heart is filled with peace and I live in His rest.
Seems the choice is pretty simple! It's putting it into practice that takes practice!
Lord, help us to submit to You in all things. Keep us from allowing Satan to separate our hearts from Yours. We know that it's not Your choice for us to have walls between us. You tell us in Romans 8:38-39 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet we so often allow ourselves to feel separated, turned away in anger like a child who doesn't get their own way, or a traveler who takes his own path because the one You choose seems too hard. Father let us never forget Your perfect love. Never forget it is everlasting. Enable us to stick to You like glue whenever problems of any size come our way. Lord, let us not fall for Satan's plans and deceits. Forgive us the times we let him come between us. Keep this truth, that nothing that comes our way is out of Your perfect love or plan and is always working for our good, fresh in our minds. In Jesus Name, amen.
Practice submitting to God. Make up a little saying for times when things go wrong to keep you from allowing the annoyances and problems of life to build a wall between you and the Lord. It can be as simple as "I trust You Lord" or "You know best Father."
2 Corinthians 12:5-7 5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
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