Grief Bites: Finding Treasure In HardshipsSample

Many people who experience loss eventually come to a point in their life where they realize they must make up their mind to press forward...and pressing forward can be difficult. The alternative is to simply give up. It’s easy to finally give up and think that nothing will get better…but isn’t that ultimately taking an easy out? God wants so much more for you than to take an easy way out of any circumstance that is attempting to knock you out. A person may not have had the power to stop loss from happening but that doesn’t mean they're in the free and clear to betray God or their self with what they think, do, or say. When loss happens, it is very hard...one can feel broken and discouraged...but God truly can take the broken remnants of loss and build something incredibly valuable and constructive out of it. And value can come out of loss as you learn life lessons from it. Some of the lessons are: finding out more about life, discovering different facets to your wholeness and brokenness so you have the ability to make better choices while learning new ways of loving God, loving others, and helping others…and then using the bricks that life throws at you to pave a clearer path to God and a better life. Yes…never take an easy way out of any situation that is attempting to knock you out…do whatever you can to pave a path to God and His best life possible for you. It can be difficult, but it is always rewarding to trust God as He equips you to set goals for your life, health, education, happiness, joy, and circumstances…as well as your future. And God is good to bless many professionals (doctors, counselors, pastors, teachers/professors, physical therapists, personal trainers, etc) with the wisdom to understand how to help people to reach their goals. Proverbs 31:25 says, “Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come.” You may not be rejoicing right now but you shall rejoice in time to come. God has the ability to rebuild your hope, strength, and faith, and He is faithful to teach you new ways to fully trust in Him. He frequently reminds those going through loss to “Be still and know that I am God…” Easier said than done, but to those who trust God, great things will come out of their times of loss. It never does anybody any good to remain stagnant in an ocean of “what if’s” or "if only's"...or negative emotions. We must train ourselves to take our heartaches, questions, and negative emotions to God and allow Him to use them for fuel to help us instead of harm us. Pressing forward can be super difficult, but if we allow God to work in our hearts and through our circumstances, He receives so much glory for the outcome...whether the outcome is great or small. God can use the small as well as the great of any situation to bless your life and the lives of others. Ask God to help you develop the courage you need to press forward past the pain. Ask Him to help you to make the changes you need in your heart and attitude that will please Him. There will be days you may feel weak. In those days, realize in your weakness, He is strong...and He will receive the credit and glory for carrying you through. Allow Him to carry you and create the changes needed as you follow Him in obedience. When you love Him, and your ways are pleasing to Him, He is faithful to set your path straight.