Life happens. Good things happen, and bad things happen. And as a result, people are shaped and changed by these circumstances. A common saying is, “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” While this might be true, it is not always true. Sometimes life changes us for the worse. It hardens us, steals our peace, steals our joy. Often when we are stretched and tested, those situations harden us and impact us in a very bad way.

Scripture:
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3,4

Observation/Application: 
In this life there will be trouble, but how we come out the other side of that trouble can be good or bad depending on how we handle it. Throughout the process we are tested, refined, squeezed, and often reshaped and changed. It is during these times that we find out what we are made of. Steven Furtick says that, “you might claim to be an orange, but you might be a lemon. And I won’t know for sure until I squeeze you.”

If we focus on Christ and do our best to obey God’s commands and Will for our lives, then we will come out the other side of life’s hardships in a better place. Throughout the process, we are transformed into something entirely greater with Christ ruling our hearts and minds. When we fill ourselves up with more of God, there is more good inside of us since God is everything that is good. When when we are squeezed, if we are full of God’s Word and goodness then goodness will come out.

The reverse is also true. I have seen the opposite when life happens to people, when the bad hits. People turn to the dark side, embrace evil, turn their backs on God and ultimately go through tremendous strife, suffering, they have horrible lives and ultimately die a miserable, lonely, hopeless death. Life doesn’t have to be hard. Life doesn’t have to be a struggle.

The difference between a positive outcome and a negative one relies upon if we seek the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, strength.

Are you struggling in any areas of your life? Turn to God. Give yourself fully to God. Make Him your Lord and Savior, and let God rule. Let God be in charge. He knows how to win every battle, and overcome every challenge. The enemy flees at His sight. He has already defeated death and the grave. He has already defeated the devil and sin through the resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Consider this. God is the Creator of the universe, maker of all things seen and unseen. In Him there is no beginning or end. He is Almighty, Always Present, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Love unending God. No problems are too big for our God. In the middle of the storm, God remains in control.

We go though life thinking we have everything under control. If life were a race car, God drives it better then we ever could. The trick is to let Jesus take the wheel. The trick is to truly let go and let God drive. And we’re not fooling God when we pretend to let go but still keep driving. We might convince others by declaring out loud that Jesus is in control. We might even convince ourselves for a minute. But God knows our hearts. We don’t fool Him when we say, “Ok God, you are in control”, but then we never let go of the wheel.” How often do we let God drive for a while until the direction He wants us to go is too scary or just not the direction that we want to go, and then we take back the steering wheel?

Letting go and fully surrendering to the Will of God in our lives isn’t always easy. But if we want to live a life, full of peace, hope, joy, love, hope… a life greater than we could ever imagine, we have to let go, and let God steer. And when life gets tough, because it will at some point, we can rest easy because we know that God is behind the steering wheel. We can rest easy knowing that He is at the front of the battle lines for us, fighting the fight for us. And we can rest easy knowing that He has never lost a battle, nor will He ever! We can rest easy knowing God is always with us, and for us, and no weapon formed against us shall prosper. We can rest easy knowing that if God is for us, nothing can stand against us.

#Stuff-Happens-Give-Jesus-The-Wheel

Image courtesy of: NicoleQPhotos

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Let it fill our hearts and minds and give us peace. Direct our steps today Lord. Let your goodness fill us on the inside and let it flow through us, overflowing like a raging river. Let your Words ever be on our lips. Let us praise you in the storm. Let us give the steering wheel to you. Let us fully surrender and trust in You. We give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Today’s full reading: 1 Kings:9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:  

• “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
• “The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” – Deuteronomy 28:7
• “Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.” – Psalm 46:2-3
• “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” – Isaiah 54:17
• “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31

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