“Sometimes God wraps His glory in hard circumstances or ugly obstacles or painful difficulties, and it just never occurs to us that within those life-shaking events is a fresh revelation from Him.”- Anne Graham Lotz, Expecting to See Jesus
In Chapter 2 (“Dare to Pray for Perspective”) of Your Powerful Prayers, Susie Larson reminds us we’re part of a bigger story. Thus, if you’re in the midst of a not-yet season, involving heartbreak or disappointment, it’s most important to keep perspective. You need to remember who you are and hang onto God’s promises. Even when they don’t feel true.
Therefore, what we say and pray (emphasis Susie’s) about our disappointments deeply matters. For our statements and prayers reflect what we believe to be true about God and about ourselves.
So, Ms. Larson asks, how do we handle the disappointments of life that wallop us, leaving us breathless. Do we:
- stop praying altogether?
- change our view of God?
- turn our back on Him?
- pray begging-pleading kinds of prayers?
At the outset of loss or pain, Susie notes, our souls instinctively cry out how or why questions. However, the author stresses, such questions steal, rather than clarify, our perspective. As a result, we must ask different questions. Those questions compel us to look up, remember God is good, His promises ring true, and He always makes a way for us.
Thus, adversity signals a time for earnest, fervent prayer. Most importantly, we must see ourselves and our personal needs in the greater story God’s writing. It’s counterproductive to grab a self-serving solution that meets a short-term need at a long-term cost.
In conclusion, Ms. Larson observes we so often fail to remember that:
“God uses us not only through the blessings He’s entrusted to us, but also through the needs He allows in our lives . . . intended to compel us to pray bigger prayers that we’d typically pray.”
Today’s question: How has God wrapped His glory in your hard circumstances? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Destructive disappointment or divine appointments?”
