Grief Bites: Finding Treasure In HardshipsSample

"Don't let your happiness depend on something you might lose" ~C.S. Lewis Have you ever heard of or read the story of Jonah and the whale? Even though people are not physically inside a whale, they may have a "whale-sized" problem, challenge, or heartache they are facing in life. It's easy to drown in life's problems, or to lose hope, as life's "waves" engulf you. Problems can wrap themselves tightly around your mind, spirit, and heart like seaweed, leaving you feeling trapped and discouraged....and if not dealt with, they can eventually swallow you whole. Problems in life are not always bad. In fact, they can powerfully reveal "idols" we hold higher than God in our hearts and lives. The LifeGroup my husband and I attend recently went through a study on idolatry called Gods at War. As I was reading through the book of Jonah, God allowed the study and the story of Jonah to have a full head-on collision in my heart. I was going through a tough problem and realized it stemmed from not putting God first...then as I prayed about it, I realized many other "idols" had snuck into my heart. In fact, I was shocked at the amount of idols I had. Idols come in many forms: people, self, relationships, accomplishments, pride, entertainment, career, hobbies, food, sports, etc...the list goes on and on. If we can love or enjoy something or someone, it can become an idol. Majority of the people and things we can love, enjoy, or idolize are not originally a sin...until we love, adore, crave, and desire them more than God. When we love, adore, and worship our "idols" more than God...problems begin to arise. We begin to "cheat on God" and carry out an "adulterous affair" with the "idols" we love, adore, or enjoy more than Him. When we choose to "cheat on God," we actively choose to turn our back on His mercies and favor. God gives us very specific things we can do during life's storms to repent, restore our first Love, and receive new mercies: 1. Cry out and call to Him 2. Look to Him for answers 3. Remember Him and His past goodness 4. Earnestly and fervently pray to Him 5. Put God first and restore your love relationship with Him 6. Put anyone or anything you love, adore, or enjoy more than God in it's proper place in your life. You may need to rearrange relationships, schedules, and priorities too. 7. Praise God through songs of praise 8. Fulfill all vows you've made to God Yes, many of life's problems are created due to having "idols" and sin in our lives...many stem from disobeying God. We want what we want until the consequences start to show up. We need to take responsibility and choose to make God first in every area of our lives. Spend time with God today, repent, and ask Him for His help and wisdom to get your life sorted out so He is truly First Place from this day forward. He's so very worth it!