Dave’s Monday Blast – January 28, 2019

All of us routinely face trying circumstances that we want Him to remove or change. Perhaps as you are reading this today you are in the midst of one of those circumstances. It is hard to endure painful things even when you know that He is in control; even when you know He is working out a plan that ultimately benefits you and yours. In those moments INTENTIONAL men of God know they should be thanking Him for those circumstances that don’t seem like a blessing. (I encourage you to read Psalm 119:65 – 72).

A grateful and trusting heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don’t warrant giving thanks. Charles Stanley comments: “By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with gratitude.”

Here they are:

Believe and trust the Lord: Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

Accept the situation as coming FROM God: Either directly sent or permissively allowed. If we truly believe He’s working for our good (Romans 8:28-29), we can choose to receive each difficulty as coming from His loving hand. Then we can say “Thank You.”

Submit to God in the circumstance: Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God “is good and does good” (v. 68) allows us to confidently place our lives under His authority.

Draw from Him the strength to endure: No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. (Did you get that? NO ONE). Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.

Now, think about that circumstance you would like changed, and with a new mindset, offer this prayer to God: “Lord, I accept this situation as coming from You. In faith and trust, I place myself under Your loving authority, and draw from You the strength I need to endure with gratitude.”