Brian Simmons is full of the wisdom of God and I greatly appreciate his voice to the Body of Christ.
Think about that a moment...now read the rest of Brian's word and get ready to say: I AM Strong! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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Your Miracle Is in Your Mess
The Bible makes an amazing connection between miracles and troubles. To really receive a miracle you must first have an impossibility facing you. Miracles come out of messes. The bigness of your problem only means a greater miracle ahead. Yes, God's greatest faith lessons come out of calamities. God will deliver you from trouble over and over again—until you understand that no matter what you go through, He will rescue you and make sure that no evil will touch you! (See Job 5:19.)
Notice this verse teaches us that God doesn't always steer us away from trouble, but He majors in delivering us from our troubles. Trouble is a pretty good sign that God is with you! The three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, discovered that the king's order to heat the furnace seven times hotter was the perfect recipe for their miracle deliverance, and their fiery furnace was transformed into a four-man dance hall! Daniel found his greatest deliverance took place inside a lions' den. A greater Lion, Jesus, gave Daniel the courage that replaced his fear of lions!
Are you in any kind of trouble right now? If so, then you qualify for deliverance in the midst of your suffering as you set your love upon Him. If you measure your troubles against your own strength, you are in trouble. But if you measure your troubles against God, your troubles are in trouble—they will have to bow before the King of all kings! We are committed "Christian triumphalists." We believe that God triumphs over all. He triumphs over everything around us and everything within us. He triumphs over every spiritual foe and every spiritual flaw.
Character Over Comfort and Blessings Released Through Hardship
God's greatest goal for your life is not to make life comfortable for you. He wants to build character. Listen to the words of a true apostle, the apostle Paul. Look at the lessons of his life and ministry. We can learn from him the redemptive value of all that comes into our lives. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, he encouraged us with these words:
"All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us. And just as we experience the abundance of Christ's own sufferings, even more of God's comfort will cascade upon us through our union with Christ. (Photo via Elijah List)
"If troubles weigh us down, that just means that we will receive even more comfort to pass on to you for your deliverance! For the comfort pouring into us empowers us to bring comfort to you. And with this comfort upholding you, you can endure victoriously the same suffering that we experience. Now our hope for you is unshakable, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings you will also share in God's comforting strength." (2 Corinthians 1:3-7 TPT)
Can you see it? Your life is a blessing, and that blessing is released through the troubles you endure. God's love can make us happy no matter what we face. If God is going to make you like Christ, then even enduring suffering for following Him will work a greater comfort and strength into your heart.
God Turns Setbacks Into Comebacks
Candice and I are not a depressed couple, nor are we given to prolonged melancholy—yet we have gone through days we wish never happened! How about you? Have you ever been overwhelmed with a sense of, "Why do I have to go through this, Lord? Do I have to take this test? Do I have to walk through this valley?" We have written The Wilderness: Where Miracles Are Born, this personal story of ours, to hopefully give you some encouragement during such times. Here's what we know to be true... (continue reading)
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If you need an encouraging word at this very moment...this word is written for you!
