If you were following from last week’s article, I asked you to watch Derren Brown’s “Apocalypse” shows (Parts 1 and 2) in YouTube. This powerful, life-changing video is a limited view of how much God is in control and how He is intimately involved in our lives. God’s inner and outer workings are more vast than our limited finite minds could fathom. Nonetheless, the bite sized view that we could recognize is mind blowing. He is the builder, author, and perfector of our lives and faith. He isn’t always concerned about our comfort or our minute-by-minute happiness. He is more concerned about our character and inner man, because this is what is going to live on in eternity. Everything we see in front of us will pass away; including our physical bodies. He orchestrates our lives with painstaking details that are precise and will stand the test of time. Unlike the devil and his cohorts who orchestrate these “catastrophes” that have major holes and contradictions, God's plans are perfect and infallible.
“God’s love is not a pampering love, it’s a perfecting love. And the decisions God makes in His sovereignty are for your ultimate good and for the good of His Kingdom purposes.”
-- Pastor James MacDonald
If you are experiencing hardships like:
Disease, ailment, pain
Financial collapse, unemployment
Loss from tragedy
Oppression from an outside party
Stress and worry about a current situation or circumstance
You are not alone. Turn to God for answers. Always remember that these circumstances are for your own good even though it doesn’t look like it or make sense. Even if you face tragedy, God is always good. He weaves the fabric of our lives with colors and textures that are not always of our own personal preferences. He sees the end; the finished tapestry. Don’t give up. Trust Him that He will work all things for good. Have faith in His promises. There are hundreds in the Bible. In the upcoming weeks, I will be detailing twelve plus promises that God makes to us. And remember, this painful trial will only last for a season. This too shall pass and someday you will look back on it as something hard and arduous, but you will raise your head high knowing you walked through it and survived. The only question is, “Did you walk through your trial while abiding in God or apart from God?”
The following are ways to walk and abide in God during our trials:
Fasting
Desperate times call for desperate measures. In the Book of Esther, the Israelites were facing impending annihilation at the hands of Haman, the Prime Minister of Persia. They fasted for 3 days and nights from all food and water. This act of desperation led them to a miraculous victory and led Haman to his own demise. Fasting brings us to a closer more intimate relationship with God, because we have fully surrendered our stomachs to Him. Fasting can be a loud distress signal to God. Some of the most amazing miracles I witnessed in my life occurred after fasting. I will share more on Fasting in a future article.
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise.”
Cry Out in Prayer
When we are in distress, we should cry out to God. This lets Him know we are helpless and in need of a Savior. When we go about our lives without sending out a distress signal to God while we are facing trials, we are operating in pride. We must pray without ceasing because God wants to hear from us constantly. Have you ever had a relationship with someone who constantly called you and alerted you to everything in their life? God wants this very thing from us! He wants the play by play on everything. He is overjoyed with us. In fact, He delights over the smallest details about us. Prayer isn’t always about the formality or the big and poignant speeches. It can even be a cry or a whisper letting God know we need Him.
2 Samuel 22:7
In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.
Isaiah 43:26
Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
I have another song to share. This song tells about God’s yearning to carry us through our brokenness. He wants us to let go of our problems and turn to Him. You can buy this on iTunes or find it on YouTube. It’s called “Beauty in the Broken” performed by Hyland. It sums up this article and the Apocalypse video. I’m introducing this now even though I have another installment for this article so you will be encouraged immediately. God created music for us to worship and connect with Him. All the other reasons why we listen to music were created by the devil to feed our flesh. It has a catchy chorus so if you listen to it enough times, it will encourage you when you least expect.
Listen:
Hyland ~ Beauty in the Broken
Beauty In The Broken (Hyland)
Looking at your pain an inch away
It’s hard to see the plot
Wonder if your story is gonna change
And you don't know you're too close to find the hope
The light don't know just why you are breaking
I know that you want to let go
But let me hold you through it
Let me carry you
I know it feels you're at the end
But here your story is just beginning
I know your tomorrow
I know where you are
Though you can’t see past the moment
I see beauty in the broken
Looking at your life from where I am
I promise you that
All your dreams and all your greatest plans
They don't compare to
My hope for you my love can do
Way more then you can imagine
I know that you want to let go
Let me hold you through it
Let me carry you
I know it feels you're at the end
But here your story is just beginning
I know your tomorrow
I know where you are
Though you cant see past the moment
I see beauty in the broken
So let the pieces of your heart fall into my arms
I want to be your hope so wont you let me
Let me hold you through it
Let me carry you
I know it feels you're at the end
But here your story is just beginning
I know your tomorrow
I know where you are
Though you cant see past the moment
I see beauty in the broken
My hope for you my love can do
Way more then you can imagine
I see beauty in the broken
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