Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Making it easier to handle a hurt…


Romans 5:3-4 (Ph), "We can be full of joy here and now, even in our trials and troubles.  These very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character..." 

One of the ways that makes it easier to handle a hurt in a relationship, it's always easier to handle a hurt when you know that GOD can use it for good in your life.  That's what this verse is saying. 

Even problems we bring on ourselves, or problems where we are an innocent victim, GOD can use them for a positive purpose. How?  He can build character, if I choose to respond in the right way.  It makes it easier to handle the hurt. 

"We can be full of joy here and now."  I'm not talking about "pie in the sky", happy when you get to heaven.  You can have joy here and now. 

There's another myth out there that goes like this:  When I get all my problems solved in this relationship, I'll be happy."  Fat chance! Life is simply a series of solving problems.  As soon as you get one solved you're going to have another or more.  Even bigger.  Life is a series of problem solving because it's a test for eternity and the chance to build character.  If the only time you learn to have joy in your relationships is when you've got all your problems solved, guess what?  You're never going to have joy in your relationships.  You must learn to have joy even in the middle of problems while you're working on them. 

What is it?  It's the confidence of knowing and trusting GOD regardless of the circumstances.  You don't wait for all your problems to be solved, but you look at the good, at what you've got, not what you don't have.  Be joyful even in tough times.  That's where joy is learned – in tough times. 

Just a thought from the front porch…

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