The truth of your foundation......

Bad things happen to good people....this is a statement we hear all of the time. It's almost become a cliche. It's easy to hear and say when the good person that is experiencing bad things isn't you. But what happens when that good person is you? How do you handle the truth that life is not and will never be perfect? Do you view it as punishment? Do you view it as God abandoning you in your time of need? Do you begin to question the very foundation that you have built your life upon?

Last Wednesday I was kind of confused about why my Pastor taught the lesson, "Why are you sad?" Usually he's all in my mail from what has been happening during the week but not this time. I felt like I was in that bubble of people who was not sad at the time so of course every scripture you could think of that we should use to combat sadness came to mind. But little did I know that this week would hit me with things that created so much uncertainty that led to what? SADNESS. Why was I sad? Because I could not control what was happening to me or around me and I honestly I felt crushed. The word that he gave was preparing me for this weeks battle.

So this week reality hit me kind of hard that I don't like or want to suffer, but an even bigger reality hit me next. I signed up for this....when I decided to become a follower of Jesus Christ I chose to give up everything that matters to me that does not align itself with His will for my life. My spirit is always willing but my flesh, OH MY FLESH, is so weak! LOL I make light of this but this is why the Apostle Paul said that we must crucify our flesh daily (See Galations 5:24: Romans 8-13-14). One reason I think these seasons of "going through" is so hard is because we don't have or see enough people sharing their stories WHILE they're "going through." So here I am sharing my testimony not of how I have made it through but of how I WILL make it through. 

Life will not always be this way and even when this season is over the next one is not promised to be a bed of roses. But when I lay my foundation on the right things my perspective is changed and I can see my "sufferings" as blessings.

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work." 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 NIV

"And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such constancy and fearlessness [on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God.For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1: 28-29 AMP

Paul experienced persecution, death threats, beatings, imprisonment, and DEATH all for the sake of Christ and we so easily get bent out of shape when simple things in life do not go our way. I'm not saying this to beat you up but to help you as I help myself. Has your foundation been laid in the certainty that Christ is and always will be with you? That the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared to the glory that will be revealed? Or is your life built around the fantasy that life will be perfect (in your eyes) and Christ only fits in when things look either pretty or ugly but never both?

Whatever fire you're experiencing in life right now is not coming to make you cry or doubt the presence of God in your life, it has come to expose, remove, and shape. It will expose the truth of who you are at your core, your first response to the fire is who you really are and that area may need a few adjustments. If you choose to allow it, the fire will aid in pushing you to remove those things that have been exposed. Lastly if you endure the fire to the end you will come out shaped more like the wonderful God that we serve. 

I said all of this to say, suffer well y'all. I'm not saying you won't have days that make you want to give up on God. I'm not saying you won't have days that make you want to run away from home leaving your husband, kids, and the dog lol. But what I am saying is check your foundation and make sure it's built on the truth of God's word and the example of Jesus and not fantasy. Restructure your mind with the truth that all is and will be well no matter the circumstances you find yourself in. Lastly, you are not suffering alone. We are all going through SOMETHING. 

I love you guys, IT IS WELL!