Growing In Difficulties

Nobody should stay in abusive situations. We should not allow ourselves to be subjected to abuse.

Interestingly enough, we should not allow ourselves to go to the opposite extreme either.

Coming out of abuse can fling us into a place that we make absolutely sure that we do not get ourselves back into difficult circumstances again. It is VERY easy to reject all circumstances that take on the flavor or smell of abuse. The end result is that we reject some things that are in our lives that are for our good. Difficult people and difficult circumstances help us grow. How do we get in balance? By allowing those borderline cases into our lives!

We have to remember that every difficulty is not from the devil. Some of our frustrations are God’s polishing agent in our lives. Those irritants are there for us to learn to run back to our loving Father to get more help!

A good example is the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:2-3. Jesus, part of the creation trinity, came in body form, and had fasted 40 days. The devil tempted him to make stones into bread. Why shouldn’t He make stones into bread? He could; He changed water into wine. He deserved it; He had gone without food for 40 days. (Think about this, as God, Jesus had probably never felt those kinds of pains before!) But Jesus did not turn the stones into bread, not because it would have been wrong, but because there was greater good in going without! Is it possible that God called irritating or uncomfortable circumstances in our lives because there is greater good to come of it?

How do we know if we are to welcome or reject circumstances that irritate us?

Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus HUMBLED himself and became obedient (this in itself is amazing). This is the “attitude” (v.5) that we should have in our lives. Whether my circumstances are fabulous or frustrating we should have the attitude that we know that, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Philippians 2:9-11 continues, “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (NASB)

Jesus went the lowest place, and therefore was exalted above all. When we are humble, God will use even the worst of circumstances in our lives to shine His Glory through.

Be at peace.