Yes, hardships come and hopes fade. Things don't go the way you expect them to go, or the way you hope they would turn out.
BUT GOD CARES
We plan and hope all these things, but it is God who causes the end result. It is He who makes the end decisions. We decide what we think would be nice, but He often, even through our days in little ways, changes events to not be how we plan.
Are we trusting Him? When those events turn for the worst in our eyes, are we trusting Him and not complaining, "Why is this like that, why are they treating me like this, why is this not going how I hoped?"
I was doing that also, there was a problem which hurt, I wondered why they treated me as they did and wished I could say something to them. I wished it could have ended differently.
But nope. That wasn't from the Lord. I was looking at it from my own perspective, not Gods.
He slowly then, guided me to read certain verses. He spoke to me as my thoughts continued to dwell on the negative events of the situation. He wanted me to take captivate every thought and bring it under obedience to Him. He reminded me whenever my mind wandered to those thoughts, praise God, what a good Father!!
He was teaching me about being careful in how I spoke about them or thought about them. Once you are sad about them in your thoughts it becomes a consideration, which develops into an attitude. Often from there your thoughts which are buried in your heart come out. He revealed to me through His word, "Do not let any unwholesome {unloving, unkind, unthoughtful, not building up} talk come out of your mouths but only what is »helpful« for b u i l d i n g others up «according to their NEEDS» that they may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you have been sealed for the day of redemption." {Ephesians 4:29-30}
It is not good to let our thoughts become deeper into considerations which grows deeper yet developing into actions; you can read about this in Elisabeth Elliot's book, "Discipline — the glad surrender". The Lord convicted me also to, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as Christ forgave you." {Ephesians 4:32}
To love and forgive from your heart, just as Christ did. Before they even ask — forgive. This is what Christ is asking from us also. To love and forgive them no matter what they did or will continue to do. He's asking us to love them and forgive them. If we truly desire this, if He sees our willing heart — He will give us the power to forgive. Praise God!
As I was saying, I was wishing I could say something to them. The Father reminded me, no matter what I said — they have the Bible they won't listen just on account of what I say. Rather, He gave me these verses.
"For you were once in Darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of the Light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth} and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. This is why it says,
"Wake up, O sleeper
Rise from the dead,
Rise from the dead,
And Christ will shine in you."
{Ephesians 5:8-14}
{Ephesians 5:8-14}
"Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lords will is."{Ephesians 5:15-17}
Life will continue, yet He desires us to be careful how we live. He wants us to live a life pleasing to Him in everything — not looking to someone else and wishing they didn't do things as you thought was right in the Lord. No, that's not right, the Lord showed me in my heart. He wanted me to be careful now how I lived, what my thoughts were on {heavenly or earthly, spiritual or soulish} He wanted me to be careful in my own attitude, what I said and forgiving as He did. He was using the very circumstances which I didn't understand to mould me. To make me more into His glorious likeness! He was revealing the wickedness in my own heart!
Praise God He is a good Father!
"Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always «giving thanks» to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." {Ephesians 5:19-20}
He was also teaching me to give thanks through everything for everything. I haven't attained this yet, no, but the Lord is working in my heart through this showing me how I can be thankful — through His power in me and seeing the wonders He's doing {has done} for me. Seeing how much He cares. What a blessed Father, He cares, about each test He allows to come across our path.
We make plans, but God directs our steps. We have hopes, but it is the Lord who makes the final decision. As I've been reading through psalms, the Father has been showing me all these verses about men, there is a way which seems right to man, but the end thereof is the way of death.
He has been showing me that it is His ways, if I allow Him to have His way in my life, His ways will end in life. If I'm surrendering and allowing Him to lead, can I not be thankful for everything He allows? He's the One in control, anyhow. He is the One moulding my heart. Another verse was given to me, "Oh You of little faith, why do you doubt?" {Matthew 24:31}
Why do we doubt? Why do we wish these things not to go the way we expect them to? It is because we are not trusting God. We are not believing He is all He says He is. We are not so sure if this is His way.
He allowed it, He wants us to give thanks in it. Every little thing even in our day, if we are desiring Jesus above all else and seeking His Kingdom and to follow Him continually, He allows each of these trials to test our faith.
WILL WE DOUBT?
Or will we trust Him?
He knows exactly what we need and when we do, we can look at how things ended, even though they weren't the way we hoped, He allowed them and is using them for His own glory and purpose. We can't see it right now, but He does. Let's leave it there in His hands, trusting that He is being glorified through it all.
He is desiring us to grow through it, He is desiring us to go to Him through it. He is desiring us to understand it is His will. He wants us to be more like Him, loving, forgiving, being careful how we live and what we say, what we think about. And what the best is — is that He will help us and fill us so we obey Him in these very areas, praise Jesus!
He is helping us, He is saving us. Let us trust Him through the little hardships of the day, knowing His way is perfect and knowing He's working in our hearts through these very things. I pray we will set our hearts and minds on things above, seeing everything from His perspective —giving thanks in everything.
Thank you Jesus!
By your Spirit you will enable us to do these very things.
In Your presence there is fullness of Joy!
