I wrote this as an email to a friend of mine needing advice and found my own heart being convicted. I had to share it here.
When it comes to your frustration and bitterness, you have choices with every situation. You can stay that way and be miserable. Or you can decide to not be miserable. You can decide that losing some money is no big deal because you have a big God that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what you can ask or think. And you know He always provides for you no matter what.
You can decide to have joy in spite of your circumstances. Joy isn't because of what happens in our lives. It lives in us because of JESUS. You can pray, pray, pray, and then pray some more. Be the prayer warrior your house so desperately needs. Pray about your circumstances. Pray for your sister and her husband's salvation. God knows and sees all anyway. He knows and understands your pain right now. He loves YOU, my friend. But He allows trials for a purpose. Everything is by design. Remember His utter Sovereignty and its perfection.
I watched a movie lastnight where these two guys, one older and one much younger were mugged. After the initial mugging was over, the older guy kept calling the muggers back and giving them more stuff. A watch, a jacket, shoes, etc. And he made the younger guy give up his stuff too. The younger guy was completely shocked. He couldn't understand why the older guy kept giving more stuff. He told the younger one, "The people that are hardest to love are the ones who need it the most." While the movie wasn't a christian one, there is a definite spiritual application there. God expects us to give, give, give, and give some more because when we trust in Him His supply is abundant.
We cannot outgive God. Whether it's money, time, love, respect. We can give and give even to the unlovable. Because God has loved and continued to love us and we are utterly unlovable apart from Jesus. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". Romans 5:8. You and I would do well to remember that the gospel should always be present in our minds, no matter what circumstances we are in. I know I definitely need to remember that. Maybe I wouldn't struggle so much. Heh, in fact I know I wouldn't. I think this is the beginning and continuation of faith. To remember that God died for us on the Cross to give us life. If He could do that, wouldn't He be able to do whatever we ask Him for according to His will?
A gospel attitude is completely selfless, willing to give whatever is asked because our hearts would be so grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus gave to give us everything we will ever need. But most importantly, it has given us a relationship with the most high God. There was no other way to be reconciled to God except that He would give up everything so we could know Him on an intimate level. Our faith should begin at the Cross, realizing that God has given us His whole Self in the form of His dear Son for the sake of our salvation. He is more than capable to give us whatever else we may ask Him for according to His will. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. Oh, my Lord Jesus, give me a gospel attitude!! This is truly straight from Heaven to my heart and then to yours! God is using my own words to convict me. Praise Him, praise HIM. God Bless You, My Friend.
I need to go pray!
