Blessings In Disguise

Sometimes there are things that happen to us that we think we can never overcome—things that seem like the end of the world. Adversity. The author of a book called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson, said:

“Sickness helps us appreciate health. Failure helps us appreciate success. Debt helps us apprecitate wealth. And the tough times help us to appreciate the good times. That’s just the way life is.”

There’s so many hard times that we can think about from our pasts—I’m sure you are thinking of some of your own right about now. But so many times these hard times can turn out to be the best times if we see it in a different perspective. These times help us to learn, to grow, to become stronger. We like to complain about our circumstances, saying that life would be so much better if we didn’t have to go through some certain thing. But God uses these times to mold us into who we are becoming.

I remember one time in high school where I was particularly upset at God and wondering what on earth He was up to: I was a hurdler—I had made it to the Master’s championships during my senior year. I was so excited for the race and I was sure I was going to make it to the final round. However, all my big dreams for the race that year were turned upside-down when I was called for a false-start and was disqualified from the race. I was definitely upset and embarrassed that I had made such a silly mistake. I kept questioning why God was letting this happen when I knew I was good enough. But a couple days later, I found it obvious why it had happened. I had graduation night and my pole vault competition on the same day that the next final hurdle race would have been. I had been praying about it and wondering what I was going to do…and God had answered my dilemma in an unexpected way. I no longer had to choose between racing and my high school graduation.

When I look back on the experience and moments like this—I just smile. I think maybe God smiles too once we figure these things out. He has His plan and he can see an eternal view of all that we go through. He knows what He’s doing.

Think about all the people in your life or in the Bible who have overcome adversity. There’s Moses—who was a murderer and afraid, but God equipped Him to deliver his chosen people. There’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who did God’s will but were still thrown into a fiery furnace—but God used them to show a king God’s power.

God can use anyone, in any circumstance—He has a plan. It’s simply about keeping a joyful perspective about our circumstances. Knowing that God is always good no matter what we may face. What may you be going through right now that is keeping you down? Is there something that you’ve gone through that has you wondering what God is doing? Maybe God is teaching you something, or maybe He’s making you stronger…maybe you’re going through something so that you can help someone through the same thing in the future…you never know.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.” Hebrews 11: 35-36