In the movie Signs, there was a scene in which the audience is called to think about miracles and coincidence and consider their own convictions about this matter by being posed the question, “Do you believe that people just get lucky, or is it possible that there are no coincidences?”
I believe that upon a reading of “The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-29)” one would agree that the “storms” in life will come to pass and be experienced by EVERYONE regardless of one’s faith or lack thereof. Yet despite this reality, as faithful believers, we have extra reasons to take heart and be encouraged:
1.) our house will survive the onslaught brought on by life’s storms, because even if they seemingly last longer that we’d like or think that we can stand... the storms will eventually PASS!!
2.) while unbelievers stand hopeless among the remaining wreckage, we faithful believers have a savior Jesus who came to STAY!!
Even though He was executed by a world that was unwilling to have Him, death couldn’t keep him and the grave couldn’t hold him. Despite the appearance of leaving by ascending into heaven, He’s even closer to us than the biblical times we read about because His Holy Spirit dwells within us!!
Death couldn’t keep Him, the grave couldn’t hold Him, and despite ascending to Heaven - He won’t remain physically gone!! (Acts 1:6-11)
When (not if) life’s storms come upon us, we need to faithfully recall that God had “fearfully and wonderfully made” us (Psalm 139:14) and in His hand we are lovingly “hemmed in from behind and before” (Psalm 139:5-6) both safe and subject to His providential care and control (Romans 8:28) and that we have His promise that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can bear, as He will also provide us “a way out so that we can endure it” (1Corinthians 10:13). We need to remember the words initially penned by Octavius Winslow (A faithful Puritan who lived in 1856) in his “Morning Thoughts or Daily Walking With God” specifically the days of June 2 and June 3 where he evidences God’s providence through Scripture.
Apostle Paul said it best in Romans 8:31-32: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
So let this be a #gamechanger moment in which we choose to be #forgedbyfire, as we use the flames from life's fiery obstacles to forge us into the people we desire to become rather than permitting them to incinerate us to the ash and dust of passiveness and apathy resulting from giving up, quitting, and resigning ourselves to a negative and ungodly thoughts and attitudes.
For more about the very real and ever present "joy" we believers have and share (even during the worst times):
- enjoy the playlist of songs below:
So let's RISE
& MAGNIFY
as we RESTART
like it's DAY ONE
because we each are an OVERCOMER
who is currently just UNFINISHED
So JUST BREATHE
and know that GOD IS ON THE MOVE
in the HILLS AND VALLEYS
Can you see the WONDER
and BE THE CHANGE
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