A Series of Unfortunate Events
After watching a particularly emotional video about praising God even through your darkest, most painful moments, I began to think about some things our family has gone through lately. I won’t go into all of it because what we went through is not the point. However, it’s how we went through it.
I’ll start by saying the events we’ve endured through the last couple of years would bring most people to a point of anger, bitterness, resentment, and maybe even blaming God for their series of unfortunate events. But God never said we would have it easy in this life. Although He did send Jesus so we could have an abundant life. Here. Now.
Sounds like a contradiction doesn’t it? It’s not.
We can have an abundant, wonderful life and still face trials, attacks, illness, and many other things. But in Psalm 23, it states;
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” ~Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
You may know that verse like this, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me…” (KJV). We will walk through many dark valleys and though we walk through the shadow of death, something scary, something tormenting, a series of unfortunate events, God has promised that He is right there with us, close by, protecting us, watching us, comforting us. If we will but acknowledge Him and receive (accept) His help.
Maybe, like us recently, you don’t understand why all these things in your life are taking place. The most important thing you can do during these bleak times is praise the Lord. No, it doesn’t make sense to praise God when you’ve lost someone you love. It doesn’t make sense to praise God when your house is flooded and you’ve lost many, if not all your possessions. It doesn’t make sense to praise God when the doctor just gave you a devastating report.
But it does make sense to praise Him because you’re still here, you’re still alive. Most importantly, you’re still able to praise Him because He is God. He is still on the throne. He is still in control and He has the last word on your situation, your life, the lives of your family, your finances, your health, your home, your job, your very existence.
That’s why you praise Him through your own series of unfortunate events.
The enemy, the devil, has come to steal, kill and destroy everything that means something to you; your happiness, your joy, your health, your family, relationships, finances, ministry, everything. But Jesus came so that we can have life and have it more abundantly (See John 10:10). In this life and the life to come.
So how do we do that? How do we praise God in our circumstances? How do we defeat the devil? We defeat him because he’s already been defeated. Jesus did that for us. Then He gave us authority to stand firm in our faith and declare the devil defeated, to rebuke him, rebuke our series of unfortunate events, and He gives us the confidence to stand in faith (Ephesians 6:13, NKJV), proclaiming that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37).
Yes! You can do that! You may have a hard time wrapping your head around the fact but it’s true.
If you’re still dealing with stuff…let me encourage you to stop dealing and start praising. Stop allowing the enemy or anyone else to keep you chained to the negative. Break those chains by standing and praising the One who can lead you out of every unfortunate event that is trying to plague you. It may seem impossible but remember with God all things are possible.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” ~Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Blessings!
Shelley
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** Never miss a post! Follow this blog by registering in the right hand column. Also follow Shelley on her Amazon Author page and social media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest (links in the right column). Shelley Wilburn is the author of the Walking Healed books, which take you on a journey of finding not only healing, but forgiveness, grace, hope, and discovering your purpose. You can find Walking Healed and the Walking Healed Companion Bible study at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
