No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39 NIV).
How
might recalling the acts of God in your past give you courage to face
the present and future? (Serendipity Bible 10th
Anniversary Edition, page 1019).
Unquestionably
one of the greatest advantages of advancing in years is that one can
gain perspective over the blessings of God in one's life. The
remarkable thing is that the most dicey points of decision and
experience one has encountered reveal most about God's unfathomable
love. The underlying purpose of events which is somewhat obscure
during their enactment becomes increasingly clearer. The metaphor
obtains of the gnarled tree we love to ponder that has gained through
years of sometimes adverse conditions a beauty more striking than can
be gained through growth in completely ideal greenhouse conditions.
We identify strongly with the tree for it embodies our own conviction
that challenging times imbue a strength of character and a perspective unreachable in
any other way. It is God's way to provide opportunities for growth
though process not magic. This is a principal difference between God
as I have come to know him and a childlike belief in Santa Claus.
In
the following video clip from Evan Almighty the viewer
of the movie knows that the waiter in white shirt represents God
himself.
God:
Let me ask you something... If some one prays for patience, you think
God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be
patient? If he prayed for courage, does God gives them courage? Or
does he give them opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed
for the family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy
feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other?
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