I LIFT UP My

Soul

Dr. Charles Stanley

October 9, 2017

The Difficulties of Life

Psalm 57:1

Be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in you;

and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,

until these calamities have passed by.

If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen? This important

theological question has mystified people throughout the ages. But as

believers, we can be confident that God always has a purpose for allowing

adversity.

Spiritual cleansing. Nothing exposes sin like pain and suffering. If there

is something in your life that needs His forgiveness, go to Him immediately.

Ask Him to restore the sweetness of the fellowship you once shared.

Companionship. God is not the author of evil, but He uses it to bring

you into a closer relationship with Himself. Any sin in your life needs to

be removed because it blocks the flow of God's love.

Conformity. Adversity purifies your motives and strips away the dross

in your life so that you reflect His love to others with an even greater

brilliance.

Conviction.  After Christ's death, the disciples had to hold fast to what

they believed concerning God's Son. In the end, the adversity they faced

led to an increased joy that came through the reality of living in harmony

with the Holy Spirit.

Comfort. When God becomes your only Source of comfort in times of

trials, you will experience an inner peace like nothing you have felt before.

Dear Lord, thank you for the supernatural purposes that You are

accomplishing in me through the difficulties of life. Strip away the dross in my

life so that I can reflect Your love to others with an even greater brilliance. amen