Psalms 138:7-8 (ESV Strong's)
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Truth: In the midst of trouble, God is fulfilling the purpose He has for us.
We often think of difficult times as unproductive times. We see "trouble" as a waste of time and as a distraction from our purpose. Yet, the above verses tell us a different story. God is using trouble to fulfill what He has planned for us. Paul says the same thing in that verse in Romans that is often quoted in troubling times:
Romans 8:28 (ESV Strong's)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
The reason these verses are true is not because we can somehow turn our lemons into lemonade due to our great character. No, the reason trouble can be used to shape us into God's purpose for us, is based upon God's steadfast love for us. God will NEVER allow anything to happen to us that He doesn't want to happen and He doesn't what to use to shape us to His purpose. Because He loves us perfectly we have nothing to fear in regard to anything that happens to us:
1 John 4:18 (ESV Strong's)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Because God loves us perfectly, that love becomes the "chisel" He uses to shape us into what He wants for us and has for us. His purpose is perfect and, in the midst of trouble ... no, with the chisel and hammer of trouble ... He is forging that purpose in our lives.
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