Nobody gets up in the morning hoping for a bad day.
Don’t you agree? I mean who jumps out of bed and gets excited about missing the bus, flunking a test or coming home to find out you are now GROUNDED because you um… I don’t know… missed the bus and flunked a test! =)
Of course there are a lot worse things that happen in life. Maybe you and your best friend had a “falling out” or maybe your parents decided not to stay together or someone you care about is battling with a terrible illness.
Did you know that God often takes these really tough moments in life and does the most amazing things? Maybe you’ve heard the verse, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Sometimes people don’t like to hear the “all things work together for good” stuff when they are really hurting. I understand. But let’s be open for a minute here and try to get a good Biblical perspective about how God uses trials.
There are Three Ways We Can Respond To Trials
And how you choose to respond will determine just how much good God can bring from the struggle. Here’s the good news about a bad day.
1. Despise It – This is the “I’m so mad” response. It’s the choice to focus on how unfair it is that something difficult happened to you.
2. Faint Under It – This is the “I give up” response. It’s the choice to focus on self… the “that’s it, I quit… I’ve had it” mindset.
3. Be Exercised By It – This is the “I choose too be better not bitter” response. It’s the choice to accept and trust in God’s perfect plan for you. It’s the realization that “there is a God… and I’m not Him.” It’s the willingness to be humble… not proud… and say to your loving heavenly Father that you trust Him and you are willing to let Him use the challenges of life to help you got and mature.
So if you’ve had some tough things going on in your life lately why not take a minute and pray about it and ask God to give you a new perspective. Tell Him you’ll choose to become better, not bitter.
Verses to Read: Hebrews 12:5, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:” Hebrews 12:11, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
