Finding Joy in the Pain - Building a Frameword of Hope: Part 9

In Part 7, we explored HOW our response to tough times (and even our victories) illustrates our level of trust in God. 

Throughout Scripture, God tells us that trials are to our benefit…and yet so often we try to avoid them, or rush through them, with little thought of how they can benefit us.

 If in the midst of a trial our only questions are “why” or “how long will it last” we will miss the lessons.

Instead, we must train ourselves to find the value in the storm, the lessons to be learned. 

We should be asking, “God, what do you want me to learn?”

If our focus in solely on the pain we are in, and how to get out of it, we will miss God. We will miss the JOY He brings and the HOPE we have been promised.

Have you ever the phrase, FOCUS DETERMINES REALITY?

If you are focused only on the circumstance, or the pain you are experiencing, your reality is limited to that. You will miss God. You will miss the blessings. You will miss the lesson.

If your focus is on YOU and YOUR abilities, you will miss God in action. 

Shifting our focus from self, and our circumstances, is not easy. 

But when our focus is on “SELF”, we are unable to see God. We are unable to TRUST God. And our HOPE is limited to what SELF can do. Instead of all that God can do.

When our focus is off God, we start to doubt Him.

Is God really good?

Does God really love me?

Is there a God? If so, why is He allowing this?

When my dad died I began to doubt God. Not because of his death, but because of the suffering he endured before dying. I began asking if God is truly loving. These doubts led to great anger with God. 

In the end, they also brought a closer relationship.

You see, God is big enough to handle our doubts, fears, anger and questions.

The KEY is to bring them TO God. 

God is a great teacher. 

Bring Him your questions.

Bring Him your doubts.

Bring Him your frustrations.

GO TOWARD GOD.

Don’t let trials drive a wedge in your relationship with Him.

You see, when I brought my concerns TO God, He changed my focus. 

I started out focused on me and my feelings. But in coming TO God with this, He changed my focus. 

That shift in focus, changed my entire perception of the trial.

Before I knew it, my doubts were gone.

My anger had melted. 

My relationship with Him was stronger…as was my faith.

I grew in that trial.

You can grow too if you stop relying on self to get you through. If you stop focusing exclusively on the circumstances. If you turn TOWARD God.

A slight shift in focus can go a long way in helping you through the storm.

Suddenly enduring doesn’t seem so bad. Hope springs new. And peace that transcends understanding takes root.

I pray you’re starting to realize the challenges you face in life are not meant to defeat you, God allows them FOR your good (and so you can help others).

Refection Questions:

1.       In the middle of a trial, what are you focused on? Is that drawing you closer to God or pushing you farther from Him?

2.       How can shifting your Focus change your Reality?

3.       Next time you’re in a trial ask yourself: What does God have to say about this storm? What is He trying to teach me?