Are you being stretched … even a little frustrated?

I believe we all experience these things. Many people have told me today – yes, today – that they have been experiencing this emotional stretching … even to the point of being frustrated.

We have choices as to how we can respond to these life circumstances: we can whine; we can feel woe is me; we can sit down and cry (not always the worse-case scenario); or we have a myriad of other possible reactions. The question is how would our Messiah have us to react?

The desire of our hearts is to reflect Him in all our circumstances … even when the going gets tough. And that can be tough! Don’t you love what 1Cor 10:13 says – that He will provide the way for us to endure! Hallelujah!

As I was meditating on this I came across a prayer letter from a dear friend. They have lived and worked on the mission field for over 30 years. Recently their monthly income dropped drastically (due to retirements or others going to Heaven). Below is a portion of their timely newsletter:

So, what does one do when their circumstances are less than wonderful? We had two choices: wallow in feeling miserable and discouraged, focusing on the negative, or rise up in spirit and fight the good fight of faith standing on the promises of God, declaring God’s will and purpose to be done in our lives and situation. We didn’t always succeed in being positive, but we stopped the negative thinking spiral by quickly repenting. We called on the Lord to grant us hope and empower us to rest in Him, trusting and thanking Him to bring good things back into our situation. (1Thes 5:18) As we let go of our “worries” by giving them to Him (Ps. 55:22), He was then free to enter into the situation to redeem it, to restore it, and to make something good come out of what’s not so good. (Phil 4:6-7).

End result: God provided new donors and our friends were able to return to the field at their designated time. We may rationalize that ‘of course, God intervened for them because they’re on the field. And my situation is different.’ But, I ask, are our situations really different? I don’t think they are; 1Cor 10:13 also states that our issue is common to man. That means that we all endure the same types of hardships which are heavier than what we think we can handle or deserve. (But it is important that remember that God’s plans for us are for good: to prosper us, to give us peace, Jer 29:11).

Let us practice truly turning these frustrating times over to our Messiah and turning away from the ‘natural’ tendency to wallow in self-pity or even in ‘righteous’ anger.

Prayer:

“Lord, I am so very thankful that You are constantly helping me prune my walk before You.  Help me to yield my ways, offences, etc. to You. We want to walk in a manner worthy of You and Your holiness. Bring Your peace to our country and to Jerusalem. In your Holy Name, we pray.”

IMMEDIATE Prayer Requests:  

  1. VBS: children and the leaders. Lives will be impacted for the Messiah.
  2. Israel: peace and righteousness.
  3. Deb (friend Georges): comfort from loss of her father.
  4. Total healing physical and spiritual for all we know and love! Jim, Lenore, Tere, Connie, Dawn, Donna’s friend, etc.
  5. Protection of the persecuted church.
  6. Pray for America.
  7. Friend (Lori): healing
  8. Dawn: healing – total repair & travel blessings and direction
  9. USA: Wisdom for our leadership and their health, their direction. Prayer for their safety.
  10. Healing!
  11. Howells: needed sale

Read all He is doing through prayer!

  1. God is answering prayers!!!
  2. Jim’s recovery is at an amazing pace!
  3. God is answering the prayers of our children­­­­
  4. Lenore’s surgery was successful!
  5. Connie has a new place to live!!
  6. Maggie survived 2 heart attacks during her heart transplant – and a week later she was released to go home!!!
  7. Norman’s niece cancer in remission!!!
  8. The fires have stopped in Israel!!!
  9. Denise: amazing visit with family.
  10. God intervened in the elections.
  11. April: God opened new doors!
  12. Maggie survived 2 heart attacks during her heart transplant – and a week later she was released to go home!!!
  13. Norman’s niece cancer in remission!!!
  14. The fires have stopped in Israel!!!
  15. Denise: amazing visit with family.
  16. God intervened in the elections.
  17. April: God opened new doors!
  18. Duane (Coles’ friend): miraculous recovery from stroke.
  19. Rhonda’s & Colin’s surgeries went well
  20. Kerene: approval for new medicine!
  21. Tere got an excellent report from doc!
  22. Children are applying Scripture memory verses to their lives!
  23. VBS was terrific!
  24. Coles’ trips: amazing – thank you for your prayers!!
  25. Rhonda is receiving answers! We rejoice with her!