Transformational Thought
Today, I want to teach you an important concept that has helped transform my life and I have used to help many others God brings my way. We all tend to put premature finish lines on situations. “I will never talk to him again.” “Nobody will ever love me.” “If I don’t get any money by the end of the month to pay my bills, I’ll be a failure.” “Cancer (or insert your chronic medical illness) is a death sentence.” I know many people who have lost all happiness in their lives and they wonder if they will ever have joy again. Their unhappiness is usually an outcome of being in a very bad situation. So my prayer I teach them to pray is, “God, please reveal the good You have planned for me in this bad situation.”
Why is this prayer always so difficult to say when we’re in the midst of a horrible situation like illness, death, divorce, depression, anger, an addiction, or financial trouble. The list goes on and on and there are so many reasons to be unhappy. We typically don’t ask God to bring good from the bad because we are in the midst of suffering. It’s almost impossible to consider all the wonderful outcomes that God could have in store for us. So, for those of you who have lost all hope for happiness and are in the middle of a storm, pray this simple prayer, “Dear Father, please allow me to see the good You will bring from this bad situation.”
We experience our present painful circumstances for a reason. Pain sharpens us, shows us valuable skills, and gives us information about God, life and ourselves. Your present painful circumstances aren’t the end of your movie. There are so many more glorious scenes yet to come. Even though it’s painful at times, do what you need to do, so when God opens the door, you are ready to walk through and take advantage of the upcoming exciting and triumphant scenes of your movie. Oftentimes, we blow off or skip the “training time” God desires from us in a task or hardship. Consequently, we don’t learn the important skills, process, or information we need to be successful when the opportunity to shine presents itself.
Today, don’t believe that your current struggle is the final act of your play and holding you in suspended, tortured animation. The end of your movie is not now. Accept that this is the beginning of a great movie that ends in restoration and healing. What is your role in the movie that turns around the plot? God will show up and do His part. Will you? Follow Him. Complete the preparation and training He is giving you now. This will allow you to manage this present difficult experience and have peace, comfort, and success through the adversity. Then you will have a front row seat to appreciate the daily miracles He delivers in your life. Whether you realize this is just the opening scenes of your movie or are tricked into thinking you are living in the end of your movie is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I know that evil does not come from You, but that You have the power to make good come from a bad situation. I pray, Father, that you give me the strength to endure this storm and to build my belief that You will bring good from the bad. Most days I feel like I will never be happy again. I pray that You replace this sadness and hopelessness with Your joy and hope. I confess that I have made choices that have created this situation; forgive me, Lord. There are also bad circumstances that are out of my control and that I do not understand. I accept, Lord, that my ability to understand is so limited. But I trust that You will bring good from this bad. Lord, help me reflect Your light and hope to others who are in the midst of what appears to be an impossible situation. I pray in the name of the One who patiently waited on You while enduring persecution, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you! … I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:16, 26-27
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
