Faith Foundation #4 - god uses our challenges.
God is sovereign. He sometimes uses difficult circumstances - like parenting a child with special needs - to grow us, change others, and bring glory to Him.
Megan and I never would have picked this life. But God has used Jude to change us from the inside out. We’re more understanding, more patient (at times), more aware of others - all because of Jude. God uses her situation to remind us to be less self-absorbed. He uses her situation to remind us that He is in control and we’re not.
God uses our challenges and turns them into strength and resilience. It ultimately leads us to greater reliance and trust in Him.
When we first got Jude’s diagnosis, I was mad at God (more detail on that in a later blog). But looking back I can see that He broke my heart to rebuild it. None of my pain - if I give it to Him - is wasted.
Thank you Lord for molding and shaping us in ways we can’t understand. Change our hearts like only you can. Amen.
Supporting Scripture
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 6:7
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17