"FACING DIFFICULTIES"

Good Evening to All!

In this day and time, I couldn't help but feel that this particular Devotional is appropriate. We need to be reassured and to know who and what we can count on in our times of difficulty. I can tell you one thing for sure. When humans will let you down, be it intentional or unintentional, God will NEVER FAIL YOU. You can always cast your cares upon Him and lean on Him.

Today's Seed: "That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Have you ever been on one of those jungle boat rides at an amusement park? As you travel through the jungle, the alligators almost catch the boat. The pirates threaten but are scared away at the last moment. From the shore a cannon fires, but the shell lands just short of the boat. No matter how many times yo take that ride, you will always come out safely. The cannon shot will never hit the boat. The arrows will always whiz by. There is never any real danger.

But there are real dangers and difficulties in the Christian life. You will be pressured. You will be laughed at. You will be isolated, but God will never abandon you. He will always keep you safe. The benefits of difficulties are hard to imagine while we face troubles, but the Christian never loses. Christ turns our negatives in to positives. He turns weakness to strength=. He turns fear to peace. He uses the dangers we face to develop loveliness of character in us. The arrows and cannons of life cannot harm us because God is using each dangerous or unpleasant situation to strengthen us.

Dig Deeper: Paul said when I am weak, then I am strong. The Greek word for "when" is hotan. It means as soon as. Trusting in Christ is instantly depending on Him the moment that the difficulty arises.


Background Bulb: Paul's declaration of dependence on God is part of a letter that he wrote describing all the things he had been through since he became a Christian. His experiences found in Chapters 11 and 12 were frightening and amazing. He had faced every kind of danger, but he had also seen the power of God in his life. He came to the conclusion that whatever came into his life was not to harm him but to make him better.

Weed & Water: when Paul said that he delighted in weakness, insults and difficulties, he didn't mean that he enjoyed pain and ridicule. The delight he felt was in the way he was able to handle problems in Christ. Hew was glad that the problems were going to change him from his old way. When we know that God is going to make us better or stronger , we will discover that we can embrace the difficulties that we face.

Think about it: What difficult event of your life has ultimately made you better?

What weakness of yours has God turned to strength?

Prayer Pot: Lord, today please help me face everything with your power. . .



Take-Away Idea: The difficulties of life are intended to make us better--not bitter.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!