Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday July 28, 2011
Hardly a day goes by without troubling, often heartbreaking news of some close friend or associate going through trouble. When Joyce arises, she doesn't just get out of bed, her awakening has to be something like the coming resurrection, we pray for the latest newsworthy person. In today's world newsworthy means being accused rightfully or wrongly, but either way, smeared.
Years ago I determined that I could do one of two things, join the gang who gleefully smear or attempt to be a healer. I choose the latter and I am glad I did.
Coach John Wooden said; "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." He is right, you may through varied actions change the direction of the way things turn out but once they actually turn out rather than weeping, sucking your thumb and placing blame, find out just how the Lord wants you to react.
An abundance of scripture teaches that we are to face each situation with courage, honesty about it, and prayerfully make amends when possible, accept any new direction from the Lord with the understanding that we humans usually are forced by circumstances (the hand of God) to make changes, changes that we would not willingly make. Jonah is the classic 101 case. God directed with His Word, Jonah resisted, God sent a storm, fearful sailors, and a whale before Jonah finally obeyed God.
We are more like Jonah than we like to admit.
During a time of excruciating trouble, I heard Tom Wallace tell of an inscription on an archway in a chapel high in the Alps which stated "It is so. It cannot be otherwise." Following trouble some well-meaning people spend the remainder of life in denial, rather than making the best of the way things have turned out. Acceptance of reality is essential in the life of an overcomer. When I heard Dr. Wallace's quote from the Alps, it switched on a part of my thinking that blunted the devastating attack coming at me from many sources and I was able to turn my eyes on Jesus, my back on yesterday and proceed in faith toward the tomorrows God had for me.
When David, the king who was a man after God's own heart failed and did so in a widely publicized manner, he accepted the matter as true, accepted responsibility, repented and as Coach Wooden noted, made the best of the way things turned out. This is a good pattern for each of God's children to follow as it is based on the truth of 1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I have learned that wishing even praying, Lord make this go away does little if any good but asking for the Lord's wisdom by pleading, Lord show me how to make the best of this, is healing, energizing and enabling in growth and use in God's work.
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit.
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Amen! Thank you so much for this article. It helps to put things in perspective. We've been focusing on change, over the past few weeks and using Jonah to explain the consequences when we resist, God's instructions. Truly it is better to make the best of how things turn out rather than denying it. I'm glad you chose the healing way. A powerful testimony and one that will help many. God bless you and thank you for pressing through to share with us despite the circumstances you are surrounded by. May God wrap His loving arms around you and your family as you as the process of grieving takes place.
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