By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Eyes to See

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

The negative is loud and can drown out the positive things happening in our lives. Studies show it takes five positive interactions to override one negative experience. I’m sure you’ve heard that we need to surround ourselves with positive people and avoid the negative. But…what if the negative experiences can be used for something else in our lives other than dragging us down?

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV

“So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”
2 Corinthians 12:10 AMP

The hard times we experience are meant for us to draw on the strength of Christ, leaning on Him in our weakness. Hope in God, not in our circumstances improving, is where our eyes should focus. But because we are human, we focus on our pain and want it to stop. Refinement doesn’t come when we are living easily and comfortably. That said, suffering and victory are simultaneous, we live out of both. The pain can be the catalyst for us to become more humble, increase our hope in the loving God that is holding us together, and move us toward becoming more like Jesus.

 ^“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

God sees everything we’re going through, and he is trying to get the message to us that it’s not in vain that we are walking through hard times with tough people. There is a purpose in the pain that we are in. Look to Jesus and let him soothe our wounds with the salve that only he can provide.

**Disclaimer: If you or someone you love are experiencing physical abuse, please seek professional help and contact the appropriate authorities. The blogger will never advocate that a person stay in a physically abusive situation.**

This song gives me so much hope and thought you might enjoy. Keep going! God just keeps getting better!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado