TargetPoint Volume 28 of 32
Todays Verse/Thought: Embracing Our Valleys
Matthew 26:39 He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.
Life Implication:
It came to pass, a phrase so recognizable in the scriptures, spoken by God 453 times in the Word. Don't we all want anything negative to come only in order for it to pass us by? None of us desires to walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23)! But, my friend, WE WILL HAVE THOSE VALLEYS in our lives, like it or not.
Philippians 4:6 tells us to give thanks IN everything. God does not bring adversity upon us, but HE OFTEN ALLOWS VALLEYS in our lives so that we can become more intimate with Him. He does not say for us to thank Him FOR everything . . . but IN everything. No matter what the trial, the BOTTOM LINE IS OUR HEART ATTITUDE toward Him. Perhaps you have lost a loved one suddenly; perhaps you grew up in an exceptionally abusive situation; perhaps you have been misunderstood and feel the resulting loneliness. How do we make sense of these tragic situations? Only in INTIMACY with our heavenly Father.
We all know people who we might describe as surfacy. People without depth. People who skim through life without much substance or fruit. Then there's people who's LIVES ARE LADEN WITH GOOD FRUIT. People to whom you might want to turn in the face of adversity. People whom you know would understand and not judge you in your situation. These are the kind of people that have learned how to embrace their valleys . . . and it shows!
Life Application:
When you find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death, death of a loved one, death of a business, death of a relationship, it is only natural to experience fear. At times like this, ASK GOD TO HELP YOU ACCEPT HIS WILL AND PURPOSE in allowing you to suffer.
REALIZE that God has only good plans for you, even in the face of your trials. DO NOT BLAME God or anyone else for your suffering. Recognize that GOD IS SOVEREIGN over all that affects your life and ask Him to bring forth delicious fruit in your life. Ask Him to DRAW YOU CLOSER to Him in your time of sorrow and to ultimately USE YOU TO COMFORT OTHERS in similar situations.
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Put Up Your Guard!