The state of our trampoline this last Tuesday…
Does life ever feel like it’s out to get you? Seems like no matter what you do, how positive you stay, something bad seems to happen? Yeah, that happens to me too. Most days I wake up happy and excited to start the day. Mornings feel refreshing and like a new chance. God gives us a gift, a new day to see what we can do with it. The last few weeks have felt the opposite for me. I have kind of felt like the day is out to get me instead of me getting a new chance to live. Just this week I broke my iPhone, lost my wallet, and stood next to our brand new trampoline as it lifted in the air and flew thirty feet only to land upside down completely totaled. A month ago I may have really been in the dumps about all of this; I may not have handled all of these things well at all! I probably would have blamed God and told Him that He is a phony. I surely would have slumped around acting like a child whose parents just said “no”.
I often fall prey to the devil’s antics and ploys. Something bad will happen and I will question God as to why He allowed that to happen to me. Just the other day when I had lost my wallet, I desperately cried out, “Where is it Lord?! Why won’t you show it to me?!” It is so easy to place blame on God for things that go wrong in our lives. I am positive there are people who are crying out to God right now asking, “WHY Lord, WHY Me?! WHY NOW?!” while they swim though seas of frustration and uncertainty in their lives. Why not blame God? If He is so powerful, doesn’t He have the ability to stop whatever the bad is? I have cried about this many times, yelled at Him in anger, as if I know what’s best for me!
This week for some reason, things were different. I did not get angry at Him; I did not fight Him or question his reason. This week I praised Him. This week I thanked Him for my cell phone that still works, even if it’s flawed. I thanked Him for my car, my life, or someone else’s life that was saved because my coffee spilled in my car before I left somewhere, stalling me from what could have been a nasty four car crash. I praised Him for my body that was spared tremendous havoc from that trampoline I was standing in front of (surely his angels were helping me). I praised Him when I found that my wallet was in a safe place and not in a thief’s hands. I praised Him when I found out a friend’s ranch had been spared from the horrific fires that are raging through the Rockies. I praised Him. He has my life in His hands, He makes me stronger. I make myself weaker by listening to the negative. He makes me stronger by showing me the positive. God has my back.
Today I sat down to read my Bible. The book I am currently studying alongside my Bible, took me to the book of Job. Go figure! It was obvious to me it was not the book, but God who took me there. I read Job chapters 38-40. These chapters are pointing out how BIG our God is and how foolish we can be when we try to place blame on Him. It was obvious to me that if I want to blame anything, I need to blame my own selfish heart and Satan for the bad in my life. God allows for challenges so that we may grow into better people, strengthened by His power. There is no better, stronger power then our Heavenly Father.
There are always going to be challenges in this life. God never promised life would be easy, He only promised that He would be there to be your refuge and strength. I understand there are many out there currently hurting from natural events, floods, fires, or tornados. I am praying for you. I know life feels unbearable at the moment but remember to rely on the One who has promised you life, strength, eternal life, and love. God is here for you; just ask Him to come into your life so you can feel his strength and refuge.
Not sure how to ask? Simple, just bow your head and say, “God, I need you.” He will help you with the rest.
Strive For Progress.
~Mae
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