I Can't Get No... Satisfaction!

Or can you?

My last blog post was about things that mattered.

I've come to learn the importance of needing God every day, every minute, every second.  There are so many things that are thrown your way each day and sometimes it can get so overwhelming that your body, mind, and soul shut down.

That's when things become dark.

Anger fills your soul and heart.

Negative thinking and complaining fill your mind.

Your body becomes tense and sometimes it'll even shake due to the anger your soul is being filled with.

Stop in that moment and remember what matters.

Look up!

HE is what matters.

HE is where you'll find your satisfaction.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

God is shaping your life, especially during these bumps in the journey.  He uses these tough times to guide us to what we need to live a fulfilling life.

Tribulation tests our identity as Christians.

Matthew 13:1-23 is a perfect parable that Jesus uses to prove how trials can test us as Christians and Jesus explains how and why he uses parables to teach us lessons.  

Tribulation tests our faith.

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains STRONG through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." - 1 Peter 1:7

Tribulation tests our sense of purpose.

"....when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when you faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when you endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." - James 1:2-4

Tribulation tests our obedience.

"I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions." - 2 Corinthians 2:9

Through tribulation, we learn to rely on God.

"We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia.  We were crushed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.  In fact, we expected to die.  But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead.  And we did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again.  We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.  And you are helping us by praying for us.  Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

God's got your back.  

The chorus in this song is pretty powerful.

"Hold on" - KJ-52

Jonah

Hold on, you got this.

Don't throw it away.

Learn to forgive but don't forget.

Even when it feels like the worst.

Hold on, you got this.

Don't throw it away.

Make more memories than regrets.

If nothing else, just live and learn.

Hold on to His truth.  He will give you strength when you are weak.  Every enemy will flee when He is present in your life.  Just hold on tightly to your faith.  Know that God is shaping you into something extraordinary during these times.

You got this.