How God Uses Tough Times

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 it says, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”  (NLT)

I’m never a failure until I quit, and it’s always too soon to quit. God uses tough times to test my persistence.

The difference between faithful people and unfaithful people is that unfaithful people give up at the first sign of difficulty. Faithful people keep on keeping on.

Faithful people are determined. Faithful people are diligent. Faithful people are persistent. Faithful people don’t know how to quit. A little acorn becomes an oak tree because it refuses to give up.

God uses tough times to test my persistence.

When I go through tough times, remember this verse is for me: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT).

God is more interested in what I’m becoming than what’s happening to me. He often allows trials, troubles, tribulations, and problems in life to teach me diligence, determination, and character. The problems I’m going through right now are a test of my faithfulness. The question is, will I continue to serve God even when life stinks?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

It is easy to lose heart and quit. I will face problems in my relationships and in my work that will cause me to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. So I should not let fatigue, pain, or criticism force me off of the job. I need to renew my commitment to serving Christ. I shouldn't forsake my eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. My very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen me moment by moment. My troubles should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I should realize that there is purpose in suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. So I need to see my troubles as opportunities. 

Don’t Give Up on Doing the Right Thing

In review of Galatians 6:9 I read,  “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (TLB).

It can be very discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or see any tangible results. Paul challenged the Galatians and myself, to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results. For in due time, I will reap a harvest of blessing.

If things don’t happen right away or when I think they should, that doesn’t mean I should quit. I need to be diligent and have endurance.

God’s Word tells me, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 TLB).

If I feel like giving up, here’s an important thing to keep in mind. A thousand years before I was born, God knew that I would be looking at and studying this verse today. The encouragement from this is to not give up.

The tunnel may seem extremely dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may even be just around the corner! I am known and loved by God. I have a purpose that God designed only me to uniquely fulfill.

Never think that what I’m doing doesn’t matter. Never give up on doing the right thing. Don’t think anyone would be better off without me. Those thoughts are only lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about me. Remember that he wants to bless me.

So don’t give up. Look up to God. Find those in my spiritual family to help me through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement. But, most of all, don’t give up on God. For he will never give up on me!

In summary, never get tired of doing what is right, for after a while I'll reap his blessing, so don't get discouraged and don't give up. Just keep on doing good and trust God for the results. In his timing, blessings will come. If things are happening on my timetable, it doesn't mean I should give up. I need to be diligent and have endurance. God provides encouragement, he knew what I would need to today and provided it. So while the tunnel may seem dark, there is always light at the end. Perhaps it's right around the corner. Just remember that I am known and loved by God. I have a purpose that only I can fulfill. Don't give in to the doubts that the enemy tries to fill my mind with. Don't give up, look to him for he will never give up on me.

In my work, I have been facing an uphill battle that has difficulties from all ends. Some of which makes me think about what my future in it will hold. The good news is that I receive encouragement from God’s Word which reminds me to continue to good and my best, even when it does seem to me to make a difference. Being diligent has helped me to point where I do now see light at the end of the tunnel and change seems to be right around the corner.

Today Father I pray for your continual encouragement to do what is good and right. I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my choices, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I ask through your Son Jesus name, Amen. 

Don’t Get Tired of Doing the Right Thing

In review of Galatians 6:9, I'm reminded “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for afer a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (TLB).

It can be discouraging to continue to do what is right and receive no word of thanks or see tangible results. Paul challenges not only the Galatians, but myself to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results. For in due time I will reap a harvest of blessing.

If things don’t happen right away or when I think they should, that doesn’t mean I should give up and quit. I need to be diligent. I need to have endurance. I need to keep on.

Today’s verse tells me, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 TLB).

This Christmas, I should consider if there is anything or area I feel like giving up? Perhaps my career / job. I’ve tried and tried and tried to make a difference, and it just isn’t happening. Perhaps I feel like giving up on my dream or a goal. Maybe I even feel like giving up on myself.

But consider this. A thousand years before I was born, God knew I would be reading this today, and his message to me is simple: Don’t do it. Don’t give up.

Don’t ever give up. The tunnel seems incredibly dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may be just around the corner! I am known, I am loved, and I have a purpose. So don’t get tired of doing what is right. Don’t think that what I’m doing doesn’t matter. Don’t think anyone would be better off without me. Those are lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about me. Remember that he wants to bless me.

Don’t give up. Look up. Look up to God. Find a spiritual family, a church and a small group, to help me through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement.

Never give up on God. He promises to never give up on me!

In summary, Don't get tired, discouraged or give up on doing what is right At the right time I'll reap a harvest. While it may be discouraging to not see any results keep on doing it and trust God for the results. Be diligent, have endurance, keep on keeping on. God knows and loves me. What I do matters and he wants to bless me.  He promises to never give up on me.

Today I thank you Father for this reminder. Yesterday I was given some confirmation of this from my leader. I pray that during my time off, that you help re-energize me and give me clarity. Thank you for caring and loving me. This I ask through your Son Jesus name, Amen! 

The Power of a Focused Life

In review of Proverbs 21:5 it says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (NLT).

Today’s verse is from Proverbs 21. It reminds me to plan carefully so that I will have plenty; hasty actions or acting too quickly on my part, will result in my not having enough.

The faithful completion of my mundane tasks is a great accomplishment. Such work is patiently carried out according to a plan. Diligence takes some work. I’m reminded (just like in the story of the Tortoise and the Hare) that steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation, action or shortcuts brings poverty. Diligence it is a result of strong character. Therefore I should never look for quick and easy answers. I need to strive to be a diligent servant of God.

If I want God to use me in great ways, I need focus. The more focused I am, the more effective I’ll be, and the more God will use me.

There’s awesome power in a focused life. Diffused light doesn’t have much of an effect on what it touches. But when I focus light, such as the rays of the sun through a magnifying glass, I can ignite a piece of paper or grass. If I can focus it even more, it becomes a laser. A laser can cut through steel and destroy cancer.

What I’m learning is that the same is true with my life. If I’m directionless, I’ll just drift through without much impact. But if I focus on a few key goals, then I can make a powerful impact on the world for God.

The Bible says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT).

One of the great examples of focus in the Bible is the story in Genesis 24. God had promised to create a great nation through Abraham’s own family. But Abraham was getting old, and his son, Isaac, still didn’t have any kids. He wasn’t even married yet. So Abraham gave his servant a goal of finding a wife for his son. Abraham told his servant, “Don’t get a wife from the Canaanites, who live around here. Go back to my country, to the land of my relatives, and find a wife for Isaac.”

Like all good goals, the servant’s goal was clear. He knew he needed to find Isaac a wife, and he knew exactly what kind of wife to look for. He needed to find a wife from Abraham’s homeland. I’ll never reach a vague goal because I’ll never know if I’ve completed it. Abraham’s servant didn’t have that problem.

For example, if my goal is to be a better grandparent, that’s vague. Even if I set the goal of spending more time with them, I’ll never really know if I’ve completed the goal.

But if I commit to spending an hour every Sunday afternoon, that’s specific. I’ll know whether or not I’ve completed it. Those kinds of goals are the ones that can change my life.

So what specific goal will I set for myself as I pursue a more focused life?

Bottom line:

Steady plodding will bring prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.

What this means to me:

If I plan carefully I will have plenty; if I act too quickly, I'll never have enough.

In summary, I need to plan carefully and not be hasty or quick acting. Steady plodding bring prosperity. Diligence is a result of strong character. To be used, I need to focus. Focus will bring power, diffusion will not have much effect. Being directionless, means that I just drift. Focus will have an impact.

Today I need to be intentional and specific about things I want to accomplish, i.e. being a good steward of the financial resources God has entrusted me, taking better care of my body and health, making a difference to those around me. Father I pray this morning for your guidance and wisdom in these areas. Help me to be specific in goal setting. Help me to accomplish some items I have had on the back burner for a while such as getting our “wills” in place. I thank you for today and the day off I have. Help me make the best of it. This I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen!