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AriseandShine.org

February 2023

Don't Be Surprised

2/4/2023

 
My friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going 
through, as if something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:12 NLT


I've no doubt that God cares about my welfare...
He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows about my troubles and my fears, along with my hopes and dreams. He's an amazing God who knows the beginning and the end. And He also knows how to stretch me so that my faith and confidence in Him continues to grow.

But it took me awhile to fully understand this. It took time for me to more fully grasp and accept this truth. This being that, according to the Scripture, everything that I now experience in life since becoming a follower of Messiah Jesus, is actually happening for my overall benefit. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Really? What a revelation! And if this is truly the case, then it is also true that God's ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

I am seeing the truth of this more and more. My heavenly Father wants me to become stronger to where I could say along with the Old Testament prophet Joel, "Let the weak say I am strong" (Joel 3:10).

After more than thirty years as a follower of the Lord, I am now learning not to be surprised when trials, challenges, difficulties and troubles visit my life. Which by the way they often do. I must welcome them, as unpleasant as they may seem. It's the only way to grow. 

D. B.


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    David Berkowitz
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