Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12: 2 NASB
The world doesn’t forgive. It doesn’t say, “I understand. I’ve done what you’ve done a dozen times myself. I know you’re sorry, and I certainly forgive you. It’s O.K.” Instead, the world get back in like measure—and preferably in greater measure. But Christians are not to do that. We are to be different. We are not to set our standards according to this world. We are not to be conformed.
— Chuck Swindoll
I know how hard it is to live with very negative circumstances and still keep believing, even when it seems that there is “no good thing” ANYWHERE in sight.
Oh, yes! I know.
There are events I have looked at and thought, “How will any good thing come from this?”
And, if I am honest, I will admit that in some instances I could “see” the value of something right away.
But, there are a few instances where it has taken years, and years, to see any value at all in what took place.
Nothing looked right or redeeming.
Life throws us curve balls
Let’s face it. There will be those curve balls that make zero sense. Times in our lives, where purpose seems absent to our finite minds; when, on the face of it, we will look for “the good,” and yet find no answers.
What is a Believer to do in those times?
We are to get a grip on God’s truth, and hold on for dear life, when “our facts” yield us nothing.
By our faith, we take each step, because our “answers” lie in His truth, even when we understand nothing at all.
God says…
In The Passion Translation of the Bible it is written,
God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.
So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him. [Romans 8: 27-29]
If God says, “…every detail of our lives,” then we walk by faith, believing God, when our eyes can’t see.
Because God’s word also says this,
Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart. Ephesians 1: 11 TPT
Often we cannot “see” God’s plan or purpose in something.
Nevertheless, though we see no good, we believe God can weave the bad into His plan and purpose and the final product (namely us) will be good!
So, when I cannot see:
That is when I have to “walk myself” through the “steps” of a righteous man.
- We must unconditionally FORGIVE. (Note please I did not say forget.) Some things will stay with us a long time. We forgive. That is our part. God helps us forget. That is His part.
- We must RELEASE; cast our care on the Lord Jesus. Some things (many things!) are just too heavy to carry by ourselves.
- We BLESS. We bless to get free. It is the final stage of forgiveness.
- We TRUST. This is the heart word for faith. We trust when we cannot see. We trust God has a good plan for us. We trust that God will make this negative thing “work for our good…” some day.
- We STAND on the promises of God. Our circumstances will deceive us. The Enemy will lie to us. Friends and family may betray us. But, as we stand on His promises—God will revive us!
The steps of the God-pursuing ones follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and God delights in every step they take to follow him.
Psalm 37: 23 TPT
Women With Destiny 