Coincidences
There are no coincidences. Things don’t just happen—they’re planned. And God uses the events in our lives to get us to stop and pay attention to what He’s saying.
There are no coincidences. Things don’t just happen—they’re planned. And God uses the events in our lives to get us to stop and pay attention to what He’s saying.
At the end of the year, many Christians, brimming with optimism and motivation, assess their walk with Christ and resolve to turn over a new leaf by cultivating their spiritual life. Sadly for many, the leaf wilts, the resolution dissolves, and the motivation stalls as their lives become complicated.
For some, devotions are like a placebo. People go through the motions but since there are no active ingredients, the effect is minimal.
One hero of the faith who encountered adversity throughout his life is German pastor, Martin Luther. Luther faced many trials as he led the charge for the reformation of the Catholic church.
To illustrate how God uses ordinary people, let’s travel back in time to a period of history called the Reformation. The Reformation’s heroes and battlefields may not be as recognizable as the American Revolution’s George Washington and Valley Forge. Yet the soldiers who led a religious revolution from the 1300s to the 1500s made a tremendous difference in what matters most to us—our understanding of God, the Bible, and salvation.
You are important to God, never doubt it. During tough times it’s easy to forget God is with you and knows exactly where you are. Whatever difficulty you’re experiencing, trust God. He is a present help in trouble.
Longfellow captured the tragedy of the Civil War through his words. You can almost hear the cannons firing and see the smoke filling the air. He found a confident hope amid the chaos of a horrific war and personal grief.
God doesn’t leave us in the tough times. Even when we question His goodness, He stays near. Psalm 46 says God is our refuge and strength—a very present help in trouble. Whatever you’re going through, God is there and He’s in control.
Rather than lamenting our culture’s failure to acknowledge our great and powerful God, let’s turn our full attention to Him who is enthroned above us, who reigns over us, because He alone is our shalom, shalom.
What is it about human nature that just has to disobey the signs? We see the words “Do Not Touch” and we have this unexplainable urge to do the opposite. Obedience is not something that comes naturally to us—that’s human nature. The good news is God gives us the power to overcome our sinful inclinations.