Whew! Do you ever have those times when you feel like God is beating you up? Over and over again, He keeps pounding the same things into your head, until eventually, at long last, you finally learn the lesson He wants to teach you. Yeah, this is one of those times for me. I was talking to a friend today about my homestay issues (an ever-present topic of conversation). And she said to me, "I know that this situation is not the most ideal for you, but sometimes God puts us in uncomfortable situations for a reason. Our job is to figure out what that reason is."
It's true that my homestay is a very very difficult situation. All of the complaints that I have about them are true. But that doesn't legitimize complaining about them. Just because your situation is rough, doesn't mean that you can't glorify God through it. Heck, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, and they still managed to bring God glory! When you look at it like that, it makes my complaining about my host family seem quite superfluous and silly, really.
So the next time you're in a rough spot, try this. Don't focus of the negative aspects of your life; instead, purposefully look for ways where you can do good and honor God. I'm not denying the hardships in your life - trust me, I am just as familiar with them as the next person. But good can come out of anything - even really crappy situations. So instead of complaining about your life, ask yourself, "what does He want me to learn and teach others from this?"
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
It's true that my homestay is a very very difficult situation. All of the complaints that I have about them are true. But that doesn't legitimize complaining about them. Just because your situation is rough, doesn't mean that you can't glorify God through it. Heck, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, and they still managed to bring God glory! When you look at it like that, it makes my complaining about my host family seem quite superfluous and silly, really.
So the next time you're in a rough spot, try this. Don't focus of the negative aspects of your life; instead, purposefully look for ways where you can do good and honor God. I'm not denying the hardships in your life - trust me, I am just as familiar with them as the next person. But good can come out of anything - even really crappy situations. So instead of complaining about your life, ask yourself, "what does He want me to learn and teach others from this?"
Acts 16:25-34
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of
the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and
everyone’s chains came loose. 27
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his
sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had
escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
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