No one wants hardships in life. But there’s no way we can avoid them all together. Even if we try. But the goal is not to avoid hardships but to know what to do when they arrive. As Christians we have a choice how to react to them. Do we use them as an excuse to run away from God? Or do we let the Holy Spirit draw us near to God in our tribulations? Hopefully we choose the latter. Because in Jesus even tribulations are blessings in disguise. In Jesus we have everything we need no matter what happens to us.

You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. (2.Cor. 7: 9-11, MSG)

Any distress that drives us to God gets us back or keeps us in the way of salvation. It is not necessarily painless. But we never regret that kind of pain. Regrets only come when we choose to be separated from God. But when we let the distress bring us close to God: blessings and more blessings! We are more alive, more human, more real, more passionate, more loving, more vibrant! Exactly what we wanted from the beginning!

We don’t achieve a happy life by eliminating pain from our life. We only reach happiness by living in God’s grace. But that’s much more than the world can ever give. Real joy is to find peace in the middle of hardships. Impossible without Jesus. But possibile in Jesus. Go right ahead! Discover blessings in disguise!

 

Gracious God,
We praise you for being active in our lives.
Draw us near to you.
Cradle us when we hurt.
Give us your peace in the midst of hardships.
Enable us to discover blessings in disguise.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: When have you discovered blessings in disguise?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you boldly live out your faith! Don’t let the enemy keep you from living out loud for Jesus! Discover blessings in disguise!

Photo courtesy of Savanna Daniel