Friday March 25, 2011
Theme: A Biblical Example | Peter
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World - Matt Redman, God Is With Us - Michael Olson, Oh You Bring - Hillsong, Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture
Read: Psalm 28:7-9; Psalm 23; Joshua 1:9
Think: During difficult times, we frequently hear from our friends, “difficult times always makes you stronger!” We tend to shrug these statements from friends as cliché’s and poor attempts to cheer us up.
Here’s a question for you. What if it’s true? What if failures and obstacles in our lives really did make us stronger? Some may say- if that’s true, I should be the incredible hulk by now! Often, it’s tough to hear and believe and it’s only in hindsight when you realize that it’s true.
Just like you, I have a testimony. Just like every guy in the world, my testimony involves a girl, a girl that broke my heart. During that time, I was extremely depressed and I hated people and I hated life. As a dramatic college student, I thought I would never crack a smile again.
I was at a point where I isolated myself- I never wanted to feel that pain again. I pushed people away and kept to myself. That was when God began a work in me. God began healing me and that allowed me to open up at trust again.
Between then and now, I have experienced more pain and hurt but I have learned how to cope and depend on God’s future. Encouragement was never hard to find because I was willing to accept it but it’s the big pains in my life that taught me how to deal with the little pains.
Now I am married. I love that God keeps writing my story.
Do: Next time you experience failure, heart ache or pain, think of three past experiences that may help you get through it.
Pray: God, thank you that nothing experience of mine goes to waste. You use it to strengthen me and help others. Please let me to always trust you even in the difficult times. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.