Picked OUT Instead of Picked ON
Life is hard, is it not? In the course of a lifetime, most of us experience situations we once thought unimaginable. Broken bodies, broken relationships, and broken bank accounts, just to name a few. Yet, here we are. Still standing. But we’ve changed. We’re not the same people we were five, ten, or twenty years ago. Our faith is stronger, our thoughts are wiser, and our hearts more compassionate. Here are 15 reasons why you may have been picked OUT instead of picked ON during the most difficult times of your life:
1. God’s goal for each of us is to be transformed into the image of Christ. Transformation usually occurs when we experience a ‘disorientating dilemma.’ When we find ourselves in circumstances where we lack the skills, knowledge and resources to cope, we become forced to modify our thoughts and attitudes, which leads to a change in actions. Allowing God to be the author and finisher of this process slowly but surely conforms us into His image.
2. Hardships often develop a kinder and more compassionate heart towards others. God is teaching us empathy.
3. Every gardener knows pruning is necessary to produce the best possible fruit. God wants you to become the person you were meant to be!
4. Hope becomes the anchor of our soul when we share in Christ’s sufferings.
5. The degree to which we suffer is the degree to which we will rejoice when His glory is revealed. Greater suffering gives rise to greater rejoicing.
6. God never wastes suffering. The Potter is molding his clay into a useful vessel.
7. He wants us to understand life is more than the accumulation of material things. This is a hard concept to grasp when our barns and fields are full.
8. We only know how strong our faith is when it’s tested. It’s the blowing of the wind in the trees that makes their roots grow deep.
9. When we seek God, we find Him. Rarely do we seek Him from the mountaintop.
10. He invites us to pour out our complaints to Him. He delights in holding the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit close to His heart.
11. It’s hard to experience His mercy and grace while we’re walking down easy street.
12. We’ll never know the joy of walking a smooth path until we’ve stumbled our way through all the obstacles.
13. We discover how limited we are in our own strength when we face seemingly impossible situations. With God, all things are possible. He loves to surprise us.
14. When our enemies are out to destroy us, we begin to notice we have a strong protector.
15. We can’t learn to love our enemies if we don’t have any!
What About You?
Describe a time when your life was/is very difficult.
Many times we don’t even realize how God may be working to transform us until we’re looking at the situation from our rear view mirror. How did God change you as a result of going through this situation?
Does this change the way you’ll look at difficulties in the future? If yes, please explain.
Pray with me: Dear Heavenly Father, may each and every circumstance we face serve only to draw us closer to you. May our words, our choices, and are actions today be offered as true expressions of worship. Lead us, this day, Lord Christ, that we might walk it’s paths in the light of the hope of our coming redemption. Amen.
