Today, I write with a full heart. A heart of overwhelming gratefulness for what God has done. I had an opportunity recently to be vividly reminded of a particular situation several years ago. As my memory was refreshed, the pain, sorrow, frustration and anxiety all came rushing back like a powerful tsunami sweeping over me. My physical heart felt physical pain over this issue by the mere mention of its memories.

Before I could drown in those horrible feelings, God swooped in and reminded me of all He has done through the situation to bring entirely different result.

If there was to be a positive result of any kind, His ways demanded open minds, strong hearts and radical change. How does one find the energy to participate in something so far off our normal path? Aren’t we already exhausted from daily life plus dealing with the issue at hand?

We could have simply sat down on the path and admitted defeat; or we could have turned and gone in our own direction out of anger; or we could have become frozen in a state of indecisiveness. This particular journey could have easily had any of those outcomes. In fact, I had moments of all of those on the path God was leading. Thankfully, He carefully drew me back each time, setting my feet on sure ground when they began to slip.

My question today is, do we really believe something that is uncertain & scary can be tamed to be something beautiful and beneficial in our lives? Do we believe change is really possible? After all, change is the most stubborn thing I know.

The answer to a problem isn’t that we pretend the problem never existed. But, wouldn’t that be great? Like a fairy godmother, a magic wand is waved and-poof!-the issue never happened. However, we don’t live in a land far, far away with stone castles and dense, towering forests. Nope. That ain’t reality – though most days I wish it were.

Daily, we are confronted with the problems, and the after math of them, that a broken world suffers under with every sunrise and sunset. Is there a possible happily-ever-after in this troubled world? In this lifetime, all we have to work with is the here-and-now. But, this doesn’t have to mean a life of defeat and frustration.

We can experience immense joy smack dab in the middle of what life throws at us. Our hope is in Christ.  Everything here is temporary. Our hope is fixed on Christ who is eternal. He came to give us abundant life both now and in our happily-ever-after in the next life. This isn’t prosperity gospel, because frankly, Jesus promised us we would have problems. Like Sarah Young said in her devotional, Jesus Calling, “When things seem all wrong, trust God anyway. God is much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes our way.”

God doesn’t take sadistic pleasure in our suffering. However, He knows that there is growth in conflict.  Romans 5:3-5 tells us, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” With that, God has given us Scripture to encourage us along the journey.

Here are a few:

* And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ~ Hebrew 11:32-34

* (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less. ~ John 3:30

* But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

* (God speaking) My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.  ~ Jeremiah 24:6

* …They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. ~ Isaiah 61:3

* This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls… ~ Jeremiah 6:16

* “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30

* …The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. ~ Psalm 34:22

*Matthew 5:3-12