Each of us strive to make our lives richer – capture moments of joy, experience new things, and spread love to people we connect with. This is what this series is all about: despite all your major problems, you can still make your life richer and better. Kapit, kapatid, it will be a fun ride. :) NOTE: IM A WORK IN PROGRESS«« Perfection not achieved yet. :)
RICH LIFE SERIES: 7 | ROCK - BOTTOMS UP
We did not have something new to read yesterday. I don't know why it happened, but I just did a few mistakes here and there trying to chase what God has taken away from me. I was keeping a prayerful attitude, praying without ceasing, but I had certain moments when I got distracted and God was so clear in telling me it's the wrong way to go. How can I make my life fuller and richer when God has brought me down to rock bottom?
The answer's easy. When you're down, there's no way to go but up.
I see God's grace taking place in the lives of the people that testify what God has done for them in times of trials and testing. Not generalizing, but it seems that a common place to start is when they lose the most important things in life, and then they realize there's no one to run to but God. You might think "ang sama naman Niya kung ganon, kailangan nahihirapan muna bago pagpalain?"
Pero hindi kasi ganun. Speaking from experience, in life's many trials the human in me really gets tired and I lose hope a lot of times, but God's grace is always there to support me. At one point, the sufferings in our lives are meant to teach us something... In my case, it's really a refocus on who my priority is, then the other challenge was about me shredding pride as He allowed me to humiliate myself and took away what I think are important for me in facing people and pleasing people. But in both circumstances, He never left me just as He promised in His word.
Let's anchor ourselves on Romans 8:28 where it says,
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose."
First BOLD word: ALL.
That's all. Not some, not selected, walang criteria... ALL THINGS, sa lahat ng bagay...
Second: FOR THE GOOD.
Meaning, sa lahat ng bagay, God works it out para sa ikabubuti, for the good, something that won't harm or hurt... that at one point, everything is done in His own volition to give us the better parts, the better sides of life.
Third: WHO LOVE HIM
Dito na may condition... In all things, God works for the good, but for those WHO LOVE HIM... and the following qualifier is WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE. God has plans for all of us. He calls us and asks us to draw closer to Him, and that's really what we have to understand. It's a tailor-made master plan for all of us who believe and commit everything to God. He will drive the car, He will steer the ship...
Found this collection of verses from kevinnunez.org, read on!
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 (ESV)
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2–4 (ESV)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12–13 (ESV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35–39 (ESV)
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
Be encouraged by God's amazing promises. As for me, I'm still a work in progress, but God has been revealing a lot to me in HIS WORDS, and in godly people I know. Sometimes when you go through things, you should ask God what He wants you to do or learn. Before, when I do that, I still rely on what I think is best for me. But now it's clearer... That in every trial, as you move forward, you commit all your steps to God alone. When you hit rock-bottom, take all the learnings bottoms up, and let this moment of refinement consume you and you will realize God is only pruning you so that you can bear much fruit, therefore you are richer and fuller in this life!
RICH LIFE ADVICE:
It's not easy to view trials in a positive light, but choose to be encouraged by the many promises of God in the Bible. Also, look back to Job's story (Book of Job, Old Testament). What are we? We are only dusts... But these trials, all these things that we receive from circumstances, they come to our lives for a purpose... and when you learn to commit everything to God, that purpose becomes clearer and clearer each day. Enjoy climbing the pit... You'll get out of it because God will see you through. :)
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