After a weekend very full and a heavy heart, I turned to one of my closest friends and poured my heart out about some things going on in my life right now. I was just at a breaking point. All I saw in front of me were the problems of today. I must admit there were a few tears shed as I shared. I am a woman after all. And over 30. I'm pretty sure at some point the ability to hold back the tears just goes away. I cry when I'm happy, sad, excited and anxious. Whatever emotion I may be feeling, tears are usually involved. Or maybe it runs in my family...
Regardless, this beautiful, wise friend of mine calmly reminded me to turn my problems into praise. So I'm behind on my schooling... Praise God that He's given me the opportunity to study and advance my career! Praise God that it is self paced because this crazy, stressed out mom would not be able to do it otherwise. So I'm tired on a normal basis... Praise God for a job that puts food on the table and kids to keep my dinner conversation interesting. Praise God for the little feet that find their way into my bed in the middle of the night because there's something about mama that is comforting when darkness is all around. So I might be worried about this situation, or that situation, or hope a certain thing happens or doesn't happen... whatever the case may be, whatever I may view as a problem, there is always a way to turn it into praise.
The simple truth of the gospel is this- because of what Jesus did on the cross, sinners become saints, the broken are mended, the sick are healed, and those weighed down by chains are set free.
Why then, when life gets us down, do we seem to forget that He is still in control?
I mean, I have proof of what He can do if I just look for it. He turned a little shepherd boy into a king. He used a little boy's sack lunch to feed thousands. He calmed a storm with just His voice. He took a loud mouthed, prideful fisherman and gave him the keys to the kingdom and opportunity to share the gospel with thousands in one setting alone. He saw the heart of a man who was persecuting the church because he had a zeal for the old jewish laws and turned him into a preacher of Jesus as messiah. When Paul was imprisoned, or stoned, or shipwrecked, etc... he always seemed to be able to view those problems as opportunities for praise.
Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.- Phil 4:8
What if we filled our thoughts with only these things? What if when problems arise in our life, we strive to find the good that will come from it and praise God for it?
After all, God accepted a broken young girl who with an honest heart sought Him and obeyed the gospel but still had no idea how to put herself back together. He patiently waited for a few years while she tried to glue her heart back together on her own, and then used tragedy in her life to bring her to her lowest point where she had no choice but to recognize He was all she needed. He took that girl and piece by piece He continued to break her so He could restore her completely. She may not be perfect yet, but He isn't finished with His work. Because that's what a Father does. He gently and lovingly molds each of His children into exactly who He created them to be.
But can I trust Him with my problem today?
Of course I can. And so can you. But it requires a little effort in changing our thought process, getting on our knees and praising God for whatever good we can see in the problem and even the good we can not. Because our Father has everything under control. So we don't have to.
...if there be any praise...
Trust Him with what you're dealing with today. Praise Him for what He's doing in your life. Remember, He has already overcome the world and Heaven is just a step away.
-Mel
