We all have been through things that challenge us, that push us to our limits, things that are new experiences. These times, these experiences, whether good or bad, can change us, if we let them. When we are children, we tend to be picky eaters right? We like only vanilla ice cream. But then we get a little older and find out how much we love mint chocolate chip ice cream of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Now can you imagine if we never tried another kind of ice cream, if we just ate vanilla ice cream for the rest of our lives. Now, some would argue that what we don’t know, we won’t miss. But think about all that we would miss out on if we never tried new things or went through things that changed us. Some experiences in our life, the ones that really change us, the ones that move us deep down in our souls, if we are honest, were bad experiences, but they changed us for the better. If we had the choice in the matter, I am sure most of us would choose not to go through really hard, tough things. We would want to always have nothing but good and beautiful memories. But sometimes it’s the hard moments that make the biggest impact in our lives.
Right now, the world is facing a not so fun time. Some may be fearful. Some are worried because they are without jobs. Some may be living their life the exact same as they were before this virus sprung up. Some may have lost a loved one. It’s in these times right here, here and now, that I believe God is moving on our hearts and minds. I believe he wants us to go through these tough times in order to come out the other side stronger, smarter, more thankful, and more dependent on him. The tough times force us to change. But let’s make this change a good one. God is still good. Let’s take these hard times and remember all that hard times have brought us in the past. Being financially broke, teaches us to be good with our money and finances in the future, it teaches us to save, to spend wisely. Being sick teaches us to be thankful everyday for good health. Being alone teaches us to appreciate all the relationships we have. Not having any down time teaches us to appreciate and be grateful for those moments when we get a little time for ourselves. Look at Paul and Silas. They sat in prison, in chains, in the innermost part of the prison. Now that's what I call a hard time. But what do we read that they did? Cry and moan and be pitiful? No, they worshipped God. They gave him praises. They did this so loudly that the prison walls shook and their praises freed them! If they sat around and refused to do anything in their situation, they may have died there. But they didn’t. They took the opportunity that was given to them to lift up their voices and do the only thing they could do. (Acts 16:16-40).
Hosea. This was a man that was good. But God handed him a situation that was not fun. He told Hosea to marry a woman, the bible says, of whoredoms. Do you think that that’s who Hosea, a godly man, would choose to marry? I don’t believe so. But he accepted what God had given to him. He married Gomer a wife with an ugly past, and present, and he accepted her and loved her. I am sure that wasn’t easy.
Moses left a perfect life in the pharaohs home and took on the life of leading his people out of bondage. I would say that’s not an easy thing to walk away from but God called him to go through that challenge and rather than deny God, Moses accepted change and did what God asked of him. These times may be scary, exhausting, trying, and tough. But if we allow our eyes to see God in them, I believe we will be just fine. We will walk away from this stronger in faith. We will pray powerful prayers. We will appreciate the little things in our every day. Maybe some will walk away being thankful for another day with their loved ones. Some may go to work with a smile on their face for the first time in years. Some may wake up with breath in their lungs and that will be enough for them to give God honor and praise. In the end, life will go on. But let us be changed.
He gives us roots so we can fly. Roots and Wings.
