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We miss so many opportunities! |
Opportunities often come disguised as problems, pain, plan-interruptions, and plenty of other seemingly negative things. It is a ploy of the Evil One to hide the good.
The dictionary defines opportunity as an appropriate or favorable time or occasion; a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
Certainly, troubles can’t be favorable, can they? Yes they can…
♥ If we saw them as an opportunity to turn a negative situation into a positive God-glorifying one.
♥ If we changed our perspective from a temporal one to an eternal one.
♥ If we took our eyes off of ourselves and put it on God and His Kingdom where they belong.
If we don’t try and change our perspective to God’s point of view, it would be very difficult to make sense of verses like these:
You are good, and do only good…. (Ps 119:68 NLT)
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33 NKJV)
Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds. (Jas 1:2)
Nothing else makes sense. So, what if we try…
Seeing our trials as disguised opportunities to:
♥ Draw closer to God?
♥ Learn a truth about God or His ways?
♥ Show God agape love?
♥ Show others agape love?
♥ Be kind instead of spewing out angry words?
♥ Learn to be more patient?
♥ Minister to someone in need?
♥ Witness?
♥ Pass on a truth; use it as a teaching moment?
♥ Have another story to write, speak or blog about? (This one’s for me!)
♥ Grow spiritually—increase our faith, become more like Christ, etc.?
♥ Manifest the fruit of the Spirit?
♥ Glorify God?
We can take each specific “negative” thing and turn it around—with God’s help. We can cooperate with God as He carries out Romans 8:28—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.
Easier said than done! True. But all things are possible with Christ if it’s according to His will. And having a right and eternal perspective definitely is!
The more we marinate in God’s Word, obey and submit to it, the more we’ll be able to see these hidden gems!
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Eph 5:15-17)
With a changed outlook we will be able to persevere through life’s difficulties. Through Christ you and I have the capability NOT to let it consume us, but empower us into action.
Problems can either monopolize or energize. You choose.
My friends, what opportunities can you unmask? With God’s enabling grace, will you use your difficulties as God-glorifying opportunities? I promise you—on the basis of God’s Word—it’ll be worth it! It’s a much better way to live.
Related Resources
Seeing God Everywhere by Rose Noland
We Choose How We Look at Life
Seeing Life through Jesus’ Eyes
How to Keep the Big Picture in Mind
We Can Learn HOW to Delight in Our Suffering!
Except where indicated all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
(NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
(NKJV) New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.