DAY 14 SUMMARY
TOPIC: GOD SPEAKS THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)
We can’t see all that God sees in our situation. We don’t know the long-term results of our present circumstances. We don’t know how God intends to use good or difficult life events to build our character, to influence other people, or to further His kingdom. Trying to discover God’s will based on our understanding of circumstances alone can be misleading.
Always rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of your situation through God’s Word. Also, see how God works by looking through the entire Bible. When you learn how God has worked historically, you’ll better recognize Him at work in your life. Your experience is valid only when it is confirmed in the Scriptures.
The Bible is our guide for faith and practice.
Sometimes circumstances appear to be “bad.” Maybe you’re in the middle of a difficult situation, and you’re asking God, “Why is this happening to me?” If so, you’re not alone. Joseph needed God’s perspective to understand his circumstances. He had visions of greatness when he was a youth (Gen. 37:1-11). Yet his older brothers maliciously turned against him and sold him as a slave.
When you face difficult or confusing circumstances, they can overwhelm you. If you bury yourself in the circumstances, you will always have a distorted understanding of God. A whole lot of wrong conclusions can result if you try to look at God from the middle of a painful situation. What should you do instead? First, ask God to show you His
perspective on what’s happening. Look back at your situation from what you already know about God. When you face a troublesome time, the Holy Spirit will take the Word of God and help you understand the event from God’s perspective. He will reveal to you the truth of your circumstances.
Then you can adjust your life and thinking to what God is doing.
How you can respond when circumstances seem bewildering;
Settle in your mind that God forever demonstrated His absolute love for you on the cross. His love will never change.
Do not try to understand what God is like from the middle of your circumstances.
Go to God, and ask Him to help you see His perspective on your situation. You can’t understand the truth of your circumstance until you have heard from God. You need to have your life firmly anchored in God. The most difficult thing you’ll ever have to do is deny self, embrace the will of God, and
follow Him. The Person of Truth (Jesus) is always present in your life. Never determine the truth of a situation by looking at the circumstances.
Don’t evaluate your situation until you have heard from Jesus. He is the Truth of every circumstance.
