ORACLES: Lesson 68

The greatest lessons in life come from your worst experiences. It doesn’t feel good when you feel misused, abused, or when tough times just seem to be your lot in life, but let me assure you, they are the lessons that strengthen you in character if you choose to follow Christ even amidst trial and adversity.

Much of my growth in Christ, and my tenacity for Christ have come from hard times. It was after I was betrayed that God taught me to always keep my trust, hope and expectation in Him. It was a great learning lesson. It was after I was rejected that God asked me if I would be an example of what it means to serve Him, even if no one else would. It was a great learning lesson. It was after being assaulted that God asked me if I would serve Him despite man’s immorality, and I said yes. It too was a great learning lesson. During these disappointments, there were many feelings of self-doubt, shame and defeat but God was with me, as I’m sure He is and has been with you, and I can say—while standing on the other side of the hardship, God has been faithful.

What I experienced made me better and stronger. The same can be true for you as Romans says, “…tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.

When you want to quit, when you feel like you’ve failed, and when you feel abandoned, always know that God is there for you and He has provided a way of escape. The escape is God’s Word and the question during the hardship is always, “Will trust His Word or your feelings? Will you believe His promise or believe your “matter of principle”? God asks you the question and you get to choose life or death.

You can wallow in the problem or embrace God’s Word with a will to live! I can’t tell you what to do, but from my experience I can testify that you will never lose when you choose to respond to life according to God’s Word and not according to your own will or way. He really is faithful.