From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

What the heck was that all about? Did you ever find yourself asking that question after you’ve gone through a challenging and hurtful trial or situation? You’re not alone, that’s for sure.

For those who don’t know the Lord, or who are off on a religious tangent not born in His truth, the usual response to the bad situation is a negative response to God. The broken nature tends to excuse its brokenness and shake a fist at God instead of at the evil.

The question that comes up is “Why did God allow that to happen?” The answer to that is clear but, more often than not, the answer is rejected. God clearly implores us to trust Him. That is hard and must be practiced because, as painful as it may be to admit, we do not naturally trust God! Only with a deep and sincere conversion of your inner nature can you even try.

God tells us to trust Him with our whole being, for in that nothing can separate us from His peace. The problematic situation may still exist but with His peace in your heart, the viewpoint about the situation changes. Everything you do, though, is used for your training to trust God. Growing in the grace of God (which comes with each adversity), allows us to recognize and fight back the works of evil meant to destroy our relationship with God. Remember Joseph’s words to his brothers, the same brothers who had sold him into slavery, “You meant evil against me but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20).

God wants us to trust in Him, not to fear evil, and to know, that no matter what, God can bring good out of every bad situation…IF we let Him! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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