(Note: Please take the time needed to read this whole post, since it is a bit longer than usual! 😜)
Time travel is a wonderful thing, but it usually only happens in movies or in your mind. Since I want to travel back in time today, I think I’ll stick to the mind version. So today, we’re going back to the end of February 2022, almost a year ago.
I needed a job (at least, I thought I did).
I started looking around for opportunities, and pretty soon I heard about a restaurant only a mile or so from my house that was looking for waitresses.
It was perfect! I’d worked at restaurants before and loved it, so I put in my resume and application. I was told that I could be a hostess to start out, so I gladly agreed. I was given the weeks schedule and told to come in for a few days to try it out and see if I would work for this particular job.
It went great. I loved it, and made friends with some of the others who worked out front with me. Of course, nothing can be perfect though, and most of my new co-workers swore. Constantly.
Other than that, I was happy!
Then a week into the job, the manager texted me, saying that I wasn’t a good fit and to come in for my paycheck.
I might as well say, I was heartbroken. I asked her nicely what exactly I’d done wrong, wondering how in the world I’d messed up. She didn’t ever tell me.
I went in and got my check the week afterwards, but it didn’t heal the wound. I moped around for a long time, and didn’t even apply for another job until August.
But you know what? I actually am fine with what happened now! I’m very glad that I don’t work at that restaurant.
What changed, you ask? Did the place go out of business? Did it turn out to be a terrible place to work?
No.
The only thing that changed was my perspective.
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Have you ever had something happen that seemed like the end of the world? I’m sure you have, even if it isn’t as serious as your house burning down or a flood destroying the whole town.
Think of those things that were annoying and saddening, possibly even hurtful. Maybe something that happened recently, or is happening right now, and you haven’t had time to get over it yet. Maybe it was a long time ago, and you know you could never forgive that person.
Have something in mind? Good. I want to show you exactly how to get rid of that nasty feeling of regret and anger… forever. I want to show you the peace you search for, and how to gain it. I will show you what is really happening behind the scenes, and how this disaster isn’t really as bad as you might think.
000
I know what you’re thinking though.
“Great, she’s gonna say ‘God’s in control so just deal with it,” right?”
Yup! Sort of. 😉 Bear with me please!
First off, I want to show you some verses in the Bible that point to God’s control in this universe.
Psalms 147:5
Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite.
John 1:3
All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
So, if he’s in control and made everything (and loves us), then why does he hurt us?
First off, let me clarify: God is not the one hurting and tempting us. That’s Satan. But why does God let Satan do these things?
The reason God lets trouble afflict us is to help us grow. Problems are a blessing to grow us in adversity. Once you overcome one, you’ll be ready for the next, harder one.
It might take a while to overcome your problem. It might take months, or even years to beat down your internal battle or to deal with external conflicts.
But I know a way to speed up the process… a lot.
You see, when you are disobeying God, even in a little way, he will sometimes chastise you with adversity. It might not happen for a while, but know that if you don’t repent on our own, God will wake you up. And it’s a lot easier to do it yourself.
Picture a little child, running loose in the yard. There’s a fence that the father has told the child not to go over, but the kid eventually decides that it’s just too intriguing… and tries to climb it. The father could go over and take his son down and take him into the house, but that’s not the path he chooses, because he wants his son to learn from his mistake.
He lets him struggle until he finally realizes that it’s futile and asks for his father’s help. Then Daddy comes and helps his son down and shows him how much he loves him, and the child will most likely not try to climb the fence again.
Of course, he might try again later, when he’s older and thinks that now that he’s stronger, he can get over.
Perhaps he does get over. But it’s not a very good place on the other side, so I recommend not taking that step.
Do you see what I’m trying to explain? The father (God) lets the child (us) struggle so that we realize that only with his help will we be able to overcome our problems completely.
My example is a little strange and not wholly complete, so please forgive me for that.
But going on, when you are in trouble—what do you think of? Do you wonder why God left you here in this hopeless place forever? Do you wish you could get out or that God would just leave you alone? Do you think that perhaps He’s just forgotten about you?
Or perhaps, you wonder what this trouble could be meant to teach you. There’s always a reason for the trouble, and if you think about it hard, you’ll see a lesson that God is trying to teach you. As soon as you see it, learn the lesson, and hand the trouble to God, it will be solved and go away.
And as to wondering if God just forgot about you, no. He did not.
2nd Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judegement to be punished.
2nd Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slacknes; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish.
That last verse is talking about God’s promise of a new heaven and earth, and how some people wonder if it will ever come. But I think it points to God’s character and his patience with us in all things, so that’s why I put it in here. He is patient for us to learn our mistakes and trust in him.
Another reason for trouble is just to help us grow in faith. Perahps you’ve been sorta lounging around, not really seeking God. Then he will bring you closer to him by placing trouble in your way and ‘waking you up,’ so to speak.
Think of Job, the righteous man whom God allowed to be tempted and robbed of nearly all his possessions. His wife even told him to curse God and die! He was in a horrible situation, losing all his children and livestock, and covered in painful boils—what could be worse than that?
But Job did not curse God at all. Although he doubted some and was prideful throughout the book of Job, he still trusted God and learned of his complete majesty and power. After that, he got back everything he’d had before… doubled.
How about let’s take a look at Daniel. He was thrown into a lion’s den, yes. But do you remember the rest of his story? He was taken from his home and family when he was still young, forced to serve a pagan king, and nearly killed for his constant prayer and faith in God.
But God used him in mighty ways, for in the end God’s power was revealed (actually twice, with Nebuchadnezzar and with Darius) and all the people in the whole city were commanded to worship the one true God and Him only.
Daniel’s trial was hard, yes. But it strengthened his faith and added to that of his friends, as well as spreading faith to the entire city and country he was in.
Wow.
So when you are in trouble, look on the bright side of things. Change your perspective, remembering that God is always in control and that he is looking out for you. Nothing will happen to you without his permission, and he always has a purpose for the trials he puts you through.
Back to my restaurant example. I wanted to work there so bad, right? But I didn’t get to, and now I’m fine with that.
It may seem a little tame to being nearly eaten by lions, but it was still a trial that I went through. I was faced with bitterness for several months before I realized several things.
The people I would have worked with were bad examples in behavior and language. It was not an edifying environment, and it wasn’t well run.
And after that, I ended up getting two other jobs that are way more fun and I love working at both places. I have good hours that work with my schedule, and I’ve been able to meet lots of great people through them.
In my case, it was partly a lesson learned and partly God re-directing me into the path he needed me on, and that was best for me in the long run. Thank you, God!
So how does this apply in your lives? You may not be in any terrible trouble or hardship right now. In that case, continue in the Lord by reading your Bible and praying! The closer you are to Him, the better you can learn His lessons. And the faster you learn the lessons, the less He needs to reprimand you.
If you are in a sticky situation or have a long-lasting problem, please please please turn to God. It won’t stop unless you hand it to him. It may be hard. It could be really hard. But if you don’t give up your pride and let God take the wheel, your problem won’t go away.
Trust me here, please. Give it a try before you say it doesn’t work. 😉
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.
Remember, you are part of God’s amazing plan and he loves you. Forever. Trust him and love him back!
God bless,
Janet
PS: Some other encouraging verses are listed below for you to look up. 😀
Psa 37:5, Psa 37:18, Psa 37:24, Psa 37:40, Rom 8:38-39
