How do you handle the ups and downs of the roller coaster of life?
Do you complain or accept your circumstances? Do you get angry or feel peace? When life gives you lemons, do you throw a fit or make lemonade? Look at this verse:
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Everything will work out good for people who:
- Love God.
- Are “called according to His purpose.” (Do God’s will)
Just look at the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. He is a perfect example of “what man meant for evil, God intended for good.”
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold as a slave. Then he was betrayed by his master’s wife and wrongly imprisoned. He was forgotten by his fellow prisoners who were released early. Although Joseph was innocent, he spent years behind bars.
But after years of unfairness and disappointment, God miraculously elevated Joseph prime minister of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. Why? So that when a drought devastated the land, Joseph could save many people including his family who had betrayed him.
Joseph’s life is a picture of Jesus Christ.
John 1:11 says, “He (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
Jesus was rejected by His own people (Jews) and although he never sinned, he was put to death on a cross. But after suffering, God raised Jesus back to life and made Him the Way for mankind to be saved.
Think about that — God specifically used the worst sin in history, the murder of God’s Son, as the means of rescuing mankind. Jesus died in our place to save those who repent and trust in Him — even the ones who betrayed him.
James 1:2-3 (ESV) “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (perseverance).”
The Christians in California who lost their homes in the wildfires, must be devastated but they must realize that this is a trial (test) to produce “steadfastness” (perseverance, endurance, spiritual maturity). Read the book of Job. He lost his family, fortune and physical health but never cursed God. In the end, God restored to Job twice the amount he had lost.
Christian evangelist, George Muller said, “Our heavenly Father never takes anything from his children unless he means to give them something better.”
Here are 5 keys to handling the ups and downs of life.
- Adopt an eternal perspective of life. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” Life on this earth is temporal. Remember, we came into this world with nothing and whatever we acquire in this life we will leave behind when we die.
In 1922, Helen Lemmel wrote a song that is the key to enduring the deep valleys of life: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace.” Those who follow Jesus, have eternal life and 10,000 years from now, the problems we had on earth will look very small. - Claim the promises of God. God gave Joseph a dream of a future in which he would rise to power and even his family would bow down to him. Instead of a dream, God has given us promises from God in Scripture that we can trust. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Also Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” - God’s love: Romans 8:35 (NLT) says, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” Verse 39b answers this question: “…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Therefore, rest in the assurance that God loves you in every circumstance.
- God’s protection: Romans 8:31b says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We shouldn’t fear the issues of life like unbelievers because we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need and says, “Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
- Prayer: Invite Jesus Christ into your life. Seek God’s help everyday and you will learn to be content in every circumstance.
Essays on Contentment
Part 1 – The secret to being content in every circumstance of life
