Have you ever taken off in an Airplane on a cloudy,gray,dreary, rainy day? Everytime I have done that I'm always amazed at how we can fly right up through dark,wet clouds that are so thick we can't see one thing out of the window. And then suddenly we rise above it all and have the ability to see for miles. Up there the sky is sunny,clear,and blue. I keep forgetting that no matter how bad the weather gets down below,it's possible to rise above the storm to a place where everything is fine.
Our spiritual and emotional lives are like that too. Did you know that when the dark clouds of trial,trouble,struggle,grief,or suffering roll into our lives and settle on us so thick and dark that we can barely see ahead of us,there is a place of light,calm,and peace that we can rise to? If we take God's hand in prayer in those difficult times, He will lift us up above our circumstances to the place of comfort He has for us.
One of my favourites name for the Holy spirit is the comforter (John 14:26). Just as we don't have to beg the sun for light,we don't have to beg the Holy spirit for comfort. He is comfort. Whenever you are going through a bad time,pray that the Holy spirit will give you a greater sense of His comfort in it. That's something He wants to do. Jesus said "Blessed are those who mourn,for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). It's a done deal.
Tough times happen to all of us at one time or another. Pain and loss are a part of life. Everyone will have someone they are about to die,or move away,or get divorced. Everyone will experience dissappointment, discouragement,or some kind of disaster. There are many different reasons why these things happen,but no matter what happens,God is always there to bring good out of it when we invite Him to. If you are able to understand the possible reasons for your suffering,it will help you to overcome your pain and see your faith grow in the mist of it.
Four Good Reasons For Bad Times
1) Sometimes difficult things happen to us so that the glory and power of God can be revealed in and through us. When Jesus passed by a man who was born blind,His disciples asked Him if the man's blindness was because he had sinned or because his parents had sinned. Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,but that the works of God should be revealed in him" (John 9:3). You may not be able to understand why certain things are happening to you at the time,and you may never know why you have to go through them until you go to be with the Lord,but when you turn to difficult situation, He will bring good out of it and that gives people hope. They feel that God might do the same for them. When they see your strength in the middle of what is happening,it gives them courage to face their own problems.
2) Sometimes God allows us through difficult times in order to make us into a better people. The bible says, "since Christ suffered for us in the flesh,arm yourself also with the same mind,for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin"(1 Peter 4:1). This means our suffering during difficult times will burn sin and selfishness out of our lives. God allows suffering to happen so that we will learn to live for Him and not for ourselves. So that we will pursue His will and not our own. It's not pleasant at the time,but God wants us to let go of everything else and cling to what is important in life--Him. When you hang on to Him through the tough times,He will give you strength.
3) Sometimes our misery is caused by God discipling us. It never feels good to be disciplined,but we always learn something important from it. It saves our lives. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present,but painful; nevertheless,afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11). God is always trying to teach us something in the difficult times we go through. "Do not despise the chastening of the Lord,nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens,and scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:5-6). When you go through bad times,ask God to show you what you need to see in the situation. Whatever He teaches you will make you stronger.
4) Sometimes the sorrow,sadness,grief,or pain of difficult times is entirely the work of the enemy. It's not your fault or anyone else's. The enemy is always wanting to make you miserable and destroy your life. But God wants you to call on Him so He can deliever you from the enemy.But God wants you to walk with Him in faith as He leads you through the tough times. He wants you trust Him in the middle of them. No one wants to hear about how good pain and suffering are for them. When you're experiencing trouble,tragedy,loss,devastation,or dissappointment,you can't think beyond the fact that you are hurting and you want to be free of the pain. But you must remember that if you will pray and praise God in the middle of your Pain, He will defeat the enemy for you and bring good out of it that you can't even imagine.
Being A Comforter Yourself
In some translation of the bible,the Holy spirit is called the Helper. Jesus said, " I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper,that He may abide with you Forever----the spirit of truth" (John 14:16-17). When we turn to the Holy Spirit for help and Comfort, He will not only give us aid,but He will give us more of His Presence than we ever had before (Matthew 5:4).
One thing I Learned about going through grief, Miserable and difficult situation is that you can have Peace and Joy. That's because Joy Comes from the Lord. That doesn't mean you suddenly become delusional or happy about the difficulty. It means that you know God is in chargeof your Life,and He will not only get through it,but there will be something good that comes out of it.
When bad things happen,turn to God in prayer And He will either take your pain away,change the situation,help you get through it,or enable you to rise above it. If you continue to live in the presence of the Lord, His Glory will be revealed in you. Others will see it,and it will give them hope.
Prayer Power
Lord, help me to remember that no matter what bad times I go through,or what kind of dark clouds settle on my Life, You are my comforter. Only you can lift me above the storms and into your Presence. Only you can take whatever loss I experience and fill that empty place with Good. Only you can take the burden of my grief and pain and bring something positive out of it. "Hear me when I call, O God of my Righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my Prayer" (Psalms 4:1).
When I go through tough times, I pray that I will have a greater sense of your Presence with me. I want to grow stronger in these times and not weaker. I want to increase in faith and not to be overcome with doubt. I want to have Hope in the middle of them and not become hopeless. I want to stand strong in your truth and not swept away by my emotions.
Help me remember to give thanks to You no matter what is happening because you are greater than anything I am facing. I know When I pass through the waters you will be with Me and the river will not overflow me. When I walk through the fire I will not be burned,nor will the flame touch me (Isaiah 43:1-2). That's because you are a good God and have sent Your Holy Spirit to be my comforter and Helper. Thank You that you will fill me with Joy and peace so that I will "abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). In Jesus name I Pray.
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