To be honest, trouble is not always a punishment. A sad misconception is that once you become a Christian, once you give your life to Christ, and begin to live a "good" life, then your problems will go away. This, unfortunately isn't true. Many people are shocked when they experience the negative effects or consequences in life, despite their faith in Jesus. Yet, Jesus told us (warned us, even) to be prepared for the troubles of life. He didn't want us to be caught off guard when we experienced disappointment, unfair treatment from others, heart breaks, loss of jobs, confusion within our families, stress at work, conflicts within our friendships, misunderstandings with our spouses...In this life, we will have trouble.
Think of it as the "Spice of Life"! Issues come to shake us up, to grab our attention and sometimes... just to give us a good story to tell on how we can triumph, how we are stronger than we think we are and how good our God truly is! Running from the madness just allots for a boring existence. Drama and troubles each have their place. It's up to us to determine how we will respond to it: will we allow it to hinder us or define us? Will we learn lessons from it and overcome the challenge, or just let the drama defeat us and send us home crying and disarmed? The choice is always ours...and there is always a choice.
So, what is the cure to end the craziness of life? What should we do when the drama won't stop?
The first thing we must recognize, is that drama is a part of life. It will NEVER go away. In fact, drama is like a master of disguise, it hides itself in different forms, but underneath every encounter, it is really the same old thing- it is just the issues and trials of life that Jesus promised we would have.
"In this life, you will have trouble, but do not fear, for I have overcome the world"
Think of it as the "Spice of Life"! Issues come to shake us up, to grab our attention and sometimes... just to give us a good story to tell on how we can triumph, how we are stronger than we think we are and how good our God truly is! Running from the madness just allots for a boring existence. Drama and troubles each have their place. It's up to us to determine how we will respond to it: will we allow it to hinder us or define us? Will we learn lessons from it and overcome the challenge, or just let the drama defeat us and send us home crying and disarmed? The choice is always ours...and there is always a choice.
So, what is the cure to end the craziness of life? What should we do when the drama won't stop?
The first thing we must recognize, is that drama is a part of life. It will NEVER go away. In fact, drama is like a master of disguise, it hides itself in different forms, but underneath every encounter, it is really the same old thing- it is just the issues and trials of life that Jesus promised we would have.
"In this life, you will have trouble, but do not fear, for I have overcome the world"
-Jesus Christ (John 16:33)
If I could be so bold as to translate Jesus' statement into a modern day quote, it might make more sense to say it as such:
"Don't freak out when drama happens. Stay cool, cuz I'm here and I will be your champion".
I love that word, "champion", because it's pact with loads of power and the perception it invokes is that of a universal winner! For whatever reason, I tend to associate a champion with a boxer, like Muhammad Ali. He really was the greatest. There are some greats that have followed after him of course, but they all had the heart and desire to be a champion. When a fighter gets into the ring, he isn't afraid to get hit. He doesn't wonder "why me" when he gets punched or kicked. He takes the blows and the punches and perseveres until he wins. Jesus is the same. He is our champion, he is fighting the battles for us. In fact, when we feel as if we are the one's getting hit and pushed and kicked, it really isn't us at all- it's Jesus who is taking the blows on our behalf. The drama is not personal; its spiritual. Here is a scripture to explain what I mean:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and agains the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12
When we go through the drama- when trouble won't let up and we cannot escape; when people are hurtful for no seemingly good reason, understand that it's not necessarily us that is the target, most times. The truth is, drama comes as an attack or distraction to our growth and faith. Even now, as I write this, I am reminding myself of that very truth. This is just an attack; it's spiritual warfare, it is not personal. Sometimes, it can be hard to believe that, especially when you are going through trying times. But scripture is clear that trouble and conflict arise from the spiritual realm, and we know that dark forces have only one agenda: to attack Jesus. We are mearly the innocent by standers, caught up in the war against holiness and evil. Yet we know that our God wins! He is the champion, so we need not fear or worry or freak out! Jesus has overcome the world!
When we face drama, instead of sulking or complaining, we have to be sure to rejoice and be thankful! And that's crazy, I know! How in the world can we rejoice when our job is being threatened? Or how can we rejoice when that co-worker keeps spreading lies about us? How can we rejoice when we have to move everything out of our apartment in 4 days, all by ourselves, because everyone else is at work and cannot help us? Where is their room for rejoicing and thankfulness when a friend completely abandons us or when we've suffered the shock of losing a loved one? And who can find time to rejoice after an unexpected surgery or when you must stay 4 hours late after work to catch up for the next morning, only to go home to barely put dinner together, clean the house and submit your college assignment on time???? I'm exhausted from just thinking about all of this, but this is the sort of week Pearls have had in their personal lives, and I'm sure you may have even had more hectic drama than ours. But the point is to understand that drama, trouble, trials and tribulations- they are all able to make us or break us. My prayer is that they make us...make us into better believers, into more faithful followers, prayer warriors, trusters of God, women of effective faith and perseverance.
"Consider it pure joy, 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... Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." -James 1: 1-4 &12
How insightful to consider trouble as a worthy cause- as an opportunity for maturity! When we withstand trouble, and not run from it, we will be perfected and even more so, we will win a crown! That's an awesome deal! The one who endures the drama will be the one who receives the blessing. We can be Queens over the Drama! We have the upper hand! We can do this! In fact, we can do ANYTHING because we have Christ within us! We have the advantage, because drama won't catch us off guard. The Bible has prepared us to understand that drama is not personal, it's spiritual, and we know that if we persevere, there is a crown waiting on us!!! How amazing is that? No need to fear the drama anymore! Let's allow our light to shine! Let's handle drama like we know what we're doing! When the drama won't stop, neither will we!
Remember, you can be QUEEN over the Drama!
Take heart.
Remember, you can be QUEEN over the Drama!
Take heart.
~Pearls
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