One of the things that has been brought to my attention is our perspective toward God. Our view of him makes a huge difference in our view of life.
The one I came across this morning comes from Psalm 34:17-20.
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken."
So. We know that God is for us, that his thoughts toward us are uncountable, and full of life and hope. Yet now we know that we will go through many afflictions.
The life of a Christian should not be easy. Paul says in 2 Tim. 3:12 that "... all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
If we love Jesus and desire to follow him, there will be many trials, numerous times of testing, wilderness seasons, and persecution. He doesn't keep us from these painful things, but he delivers us out of them. My dad once told me: "Rule of the Kingdom. Never process in a storm." And thus I would suggest that when the storms come, our calling is to sleep in the boat like Jesus did. When our emotions are flying up in our face, and shame and guilt and loneliness and fear come swirling around us, r e s t in him.
Let it go. You will not die.
"I would have lost heart, unless i had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 "Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!"
-Psalm 27:13-14
