Growing Pains

Let's remember that God is aware of everything going on in each of our lives and He can allow it to happen or prevent it. This is a mystery that we cannot possibly understand...especially when "bad things happen to good people."

When disaster strikes...and sooner or later it happens to all of us, it certainly does not catch God off guard. Do you really think He ever says, "Oops, didn't see that coming!" or "Wow, I didn't mean for that to happen!" Of course not.

It's always the enemy who causes bad things (evil) to happen on earth and it's always God who makes "All things work together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).

Remember Job who questioned God for allowing such horrible calamities to befall him. After God responded by taking Job to task for questioning the Creator of the Universe, Job replied, "I don't understand but I disown what I have said and repent " and also " I know that You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can be hindered." (Job 42:2,6).

God's Word in the Book of Job reminds us that although we cannot understand why "bad things happen to good people", we know that, by faith, God is in control and His purpose will be revealed to us one day...in this life or the next.

From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries

2 Corinthians 3:18 "As the Spirit… works within us, we become… like Him."

Are you striving to become more like Jesus, but some days it feels like two steps forward and three back? Growing up Spiritually isn't easy, that's why Paul encourages us not to "grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9).

You don't notice yourself growing older physically until you look at an earlier photo, then it hits you. And it's the same with Spiritual growth; it's hard to gauge how far you've come until you look back and see where you were before Jesus saved you and turned your life around. The Bible says, "As the Spirit… works within us, we become more… like Him." But growing up involves growing pains!

One day a high-rise construction worker slipped and fell from a scaffold 40 floors up. As he plummeted past the 20th floor a woman in an office shouted, "How're you doing?" The man replied, "So far so good!"

Never forget that you're on a Spiritual journey, you're making progress, and that the devil will always look for ways to remind you how far you still have to go. Don't listen to him! Jesus said: "There is nothing truthful about him… everything he says is a lie" (John 8:44).

If you get discouraged and give up, Satan wins. Learn to live beyond your feelings, to dig down inside to where God's Spirit lives. And take heart! It may not always feel like it, but every day you're maturing and growing stronger in Christ. So don't even think about throwing in the towel!