Don't be Surprised~

TGIF Greetings:)

Today we start tackling the tough topic of how God works out the bad stuff of life into something good.

I, like everyone else, have gone through some things that are hard to understand. But since God is my Father, I am going to believe Him when He says that somehow, someway, everything will ultimately work out for my good.

Here's a powerful disclaimer:

No where in the Bible does it say that we are going to live a trouble-free life. In fact, it says the exact opposite.

1 Peter 4:12

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."

Fiery trials happen, we shouldn't be surprised by them because they are a part of life, and it has nothing to do with being singled out. We all go through something--sooner or later. I don't care how special you are, how many people love you, how much money you have, or what degree you earned from Miami Dude Community College--YOU ARE NOT EXEMPT.

Honestly, look at me. I am pleasantly plump, I laugh easily at anything and everything, I practice good dental hygiene, and regularly exfoliate my skin. I am precious and yet...

Trials are not something so extraordinary or rare that when they happen every one is like, "Oh my gosh? How could that happen? Life is supposed to be perfect!"

Therefore, when problems do come our way we can choose how we are going to react to them based on the powerful truth that God is aware of every single detail about us.

For example:

One day, out of the blue, I insisted that Jorge go to the dermatologist. This was in November of 2010. The first available appointment was January 4 of 2011. When that day finally arrived, Jorge did not want to go. He said he was too busy and would go later. I insisted, however, and he went. He was frustrated, but he went. The doc said everything looked fine, but they did biopsy a small mole on his back. Imagine our surprise when the next day we received a call that it was melanoma. Even the doctor was shocked. Suddenly we were scrambling to check his eyes, his chest, his blood...to make sure nothing had spread. And the day of the surgery they made an additional incision under his arm and performed some sort of scan with fluorescent dye in his lymph system to double check. AMEN! Everything came back 100% OK!

But it was what we did as a family that I want to focus on. When the doctor called that Jorge would need surgery--not some topical in-office procedure but a full-blown general anesthesia operation to remove the mole and surrounding tissue-- I gathered my chickies and my rooster and we all knelt down on the spot and unashamedly thanked God that He was in control. We still were not sure of the outcome, but just knowing that God had Jorge in His tender care brought us all a wave of relief. What if Jorge had skipped his appointment? What if we never would have made the appointment in the first place?

Knowing that God has obligated Himself to intervene in our lives to bring blessings out of trials changes the way we look at suffering.

More examples next week:)

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We know we shouldn't be surprised when troubles come our way as they are a part of life, but we can't help it. This just shows us how very very much we need You every moment of every day. "All praise to You because You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." (Ephesians 1:3) In Jesus name, AMEN~