Laurie’s Lesson #008
“What If Your Greatest Blessings Are Hidden in the Storm?”
“I’ve always loved the song ‘Blessings’ by Laura Story. Every time I hear it, it reminds me that God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we expect… but He always answers them with love.
Think about it…
We pray for peace…
God may teach us trust.
We pray for strength…
God allows us to face something that makes us stronger.
We pray for patience…
God gives us opportunities to practice patience.
We pray for healing…
Sometimes He heals instantly.
Sometimes He heals through doctors.
Sometimes He heals emotionally.
And sometimes He heals our hearts while we’re still waiting for our circumstances to change.
Looking back over my own life…
I never would have chosen to lose Bryan.
I never would have chosen to walk through grief.
I never would have chosen many of the valleys I’ve experienced.
But I can honestly tell you today that God used those seasons to shape me into the woman I am now.
Those storms gave me compassion I didn’t have before.
They deepened my faith.
They gave me a ministry to widows.
They helped me encourage people who are hurting.
They taught me to rely on God instead of my own strength.
Would I ever ask to go through those things?
No.
Would I trade what God produced in me because of them?
Also no.
Sometimes we’re praying for God to remove the mountain…
while He’s using the climb to build our character.
Sometimes we’re asking Him to calm the storm…
while He’s teaching us to trust Him in the boat.
I’ve learned that God is often doing His greatest work when I can’t see it.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’
Notice it doesn’t say all things are good.
It says God works through all things for good.
That’s a huge difference.
If you’re walking through a difficult season today, don’t give up.
The chapter you’re living today isn’t the end of your story.
God is still writing.
One day, you may look back and realize the very thing you begged Him to remove became the very thing He used to prepare you for your greatest purpose.
So here’s today’s Laurie’s Lesson…
Don’t judge God’s faithfulness by your current circumstances.
Judge your circumstances by God’s faithfulness.
Keep praying.
Keep trusting.
Keep believing.
Your storm may just be carrying the blessing you’ve been praying for all along.”
