Wow, God! (An Advent Journey)Sample

WOW, GOD. YOU USE MY HARDSHIPS TO BRING ME TO YOU.

Experience

You know, I wish saying yes to a life with Jesus meant saying no to a life with problems. The truth is, though, following Jesus doesn’t remove us from the hard world. Things happen. Things that aren’t easy. Things I would rather skip. Hardship. Loss. Pain. It comes in all shapes and sizes. What’s it all for? That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? I do know that I’ve learned things when they have happened to me. Made parts of me firmer, stronger. But at the same time, softer in other areas. I’ve become understanding in a way that’s less judgmental. I guess you could call it growth. 

While pain has been hard to go through, I look at who I am now, on this side of the pain. Was there any other way to teach me? Would I have listened if someone had just told me how to grow?  Maybe. Probably not. No, I wouldn’t have listened. I had to go through it… live through it… to experience what God had for me in it. I don’t think I would trade the things I’ve been through if it meant I also had to give back what I’ve learned, or lose the deeper experiences I’ve had with God and others.

Wow, God. You use my hardships to bring me to You.

Respond

I’m sure you have had some hard times. Everyone has. What do you do with them? Do you approach these times in your life as an opportunity? An opportunity for God to get your attention about something in you? “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17) Jesus knows this truth personally. Think about how God sent Jesus to be born, so He could actually die - a momentary death for eternal life. God used all of it for good. When life is very difficult, even scary, God is there. Whether or not you believe God causes these times, the Bible clearly teaches He can use them to help you grow as a person. He will not let your hard times go wasted or unrewarded. He can use difficult times as teachable times.

Pray

God, will you open my heart so I see the painful times as times of growth? Amen.