“God never gives us more than we can handle.”

HA!

The point of trials is exactly to give us more than we can handle. By facing more than we can handle, we are forced to lean on His strength. We are forced to learn we are not sufficient in ourselves.

We learn to “not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

From trials, our faith, endurance, and fruits of the Spirit grow so we are able to take on more the next time. (James 1:3)

In strength-training, you deliberately exceed the accustomed load on your muscles. By pressing (safely) beyond your physical limit, you increase your muscle’s strength.

And it is hard. I sometimes tell my trainer that I hope Christ comes again before we get to the next machine.

Spiritually, all—ALL–Christians are in a God-designed spiritual strength-training program.

We are promised trouble.

We are also promised benefits from that trouble. (See What’s so Good about Bad?)

The choice is ours: we can recognize that God, our strength-trainer, has allowed the trial for our benefit, lean on Him, honor Him throughout, and keep going. Or we can whine, and complain, and crumble.

Let’s consider it all joy. (James 1:2)

Nothing is impossible with God. We can ask, but He can give more than we can imagine.

“With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

He “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

At the same time, we must live in dependence on and surrender to God. He loves His children and is molding us into the image of His Son. He uses trials to fulfill His loving purpose.

You’re heard about the crisis with my eyes. I suddenly could not see very well, and learned I had drainage and macula issues in both eyes. (See Your Will be Done; Practical Exam; New Territory; A Good Talking-To; Humble Faith; Interruption or Opportunity?; Making it Worse to Make it Better; I’m Tired.)

I went from scared to trusting to imploring to scared to surrender to … well, you get the idea.

I did consistently pray for the Lord to restore my vision. But I also determined to put myself in His hands (where I was anyway) knowing He had a loving purpose for my difficulties, and knowing He would be with me, and still have a purpose for me, even if I lost my sight.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we mean that our request honors Him and is congruent with His purposes. Too often we don’t get what we want because we ask with the wrong motives, wanting our own way.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

I definitely do not claim that my prayers were perfect. I desperately wanted to be able to see. I cringed at the idea of living the rest of my life with impaired vision, or worse. But I did work at trusting Him.

And God, in His mercy, in His lovingkindness, restored my sight.

Four surgeries later, I can see as well with glasses as I could before all this started. And, except for close up, I can see better without glasses than before (to correct the drainage problem artificial lenses were implanted). Thank You, Lord!

I do have small blurry spots in central vision in each eye, but they are in different places, and are definitely manageable. I’m actually grateful for them because I do not want to forget God’s incredible gift.

In fact, speaking of gifts, you open two every morning.

There are five physical senses: smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing. Neuropsychologists say thinking is the sixth sense.

Seventh Sense

Christians have been given a seventh sense: spiritual discernment.

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).

“The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Romans 8:7).

We understand the world differently than non-believers.

Huh?

Have you ever talked with a friend about the Lord, and, even though your friend likes you and was listening, you’ve gotten a blank stare? Yep, me too.

We are to always be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

While we are responsible to try, there may be no understanding, at least at that time.

And we shouldn’t be surprised. They don’t get it, and they can’t. It takes the seventh sense, spiritual discernment, to understand the things of God.

We must pray that our friends’ minds will be opened, “that that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ” (Acts 26:17-18).

Growth in the Seventh Sense

We train ourselves to use our sense of hearing in order to listen better. We train ourselves to notice, using our sense of sight. We learn to think better as we mature.

In the same way, while we, God’s children, have been given the seventh sense of spiritual discernment, our ability grows as we are taught through the word of God. We must hone our gift through increasing in the knowledge of God and practicing the truth.

“Teach me good discernment and knowledge” (Psalm 119:66)

What to do

1) Be grateful. You are saved by a gift of God. Your seventh sense, spiritual discernment, is a gift of God.

2) Don’t be surprised that non-believers do not understand. Pray for them.

3) Diligently study the Bible, pray, and practice walking according to the Spirit.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I–finally—ordered “grown-up bookcases” to replace my college concrete block and board shelves. I carefully measured to maximize the shelf space and pictured how wonderful they’d look.

But I didn’t, not for one second, consider getting the bookcases from the driveway into my study.

The corner unit could not be maneuvered through the hall and into my room.

No way. No how. Nope!

I spent more than a day beating myself up. Why in the world didn’t I think of that problem? It is so obvious. Why in the world didn’t I ask my husband to look at it before placing the order? He would have seen the issue instantly. If only. If only.

Why am I so stupid?

If I stay focused on my error, I lose today’s opportunities. I know I have to find a way to move on. I need to switch from “if only” to “next time.”

I need to learn from my mistake so I don’t repeat it. That’s examining myself.

But then I need to capture that understanding and translate it into the future. Next time I am going to picture the entire process instead of just the desired end result. Next time I am going to ask my husband what he thinks before I place the order.

“…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

For more information about “if only” and “next time,” see pages 247-249 in When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready?

P.S. Thanks to the skill of others, the corner unit was taken apart and put back together in my study. And it looks great.

Driving from a crowded event, a policeman forced me to turn right when I needed to go straight. He didn’t want to hear about my problem. He just wanted me to move on. Humph.

Move on

God said something similar to Moses and to Paul.

Moses really wanted to cross over the Jordan and see the fair land God promised to the Israelites.

“But the LORD…would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, “Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter.” (Deuteronomy 3:26)

Moses, instead, moved on to what the Lord wanted done next.

Paul had a “thorn in his flesh,” and “implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

But the Lord told Paul “No,” and Paul moved on.

Stuck?

Are you hanging on to something when the Lord wants you to move on?

It is easy to be stuck in the past, or be stuck in our dreams of “how it ought be.”

This is not good.

When we’re stuck:

We don’t move on to what the Lord wants next from us. That’s disobedience.

We don’t recognize His love and sovereignty in prodding us along. That’s ingratitude.

Paul

God rarely explains why He says “No,” but, with Paul, the Lord told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul then rejoiced: “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

What am I going to do? What are you doing to do?

Let’s Not Be Stuck

Let’s not be stuck.

1. Let’s praise Him for His steadfast love.
2. Let’s thank Him for continuing to make us more like Christ.
3. Let’s thank Him for new opportunities.

God says to us: Move on, Beloved.

My book is now available through KristinPSnyder.com or Amazon!

When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fearbad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and help them emerge stronger on the other side.

When you are awake in the middle of the night, what are you doing? Worrying? Thinking about what you are going to do tomorrow? Reviewing your “To Do” list? Singing?

Singing?

God gives us songs in the night. (Job 35:10)

Songs in the Night

Songs in the night is God’s wonderful gift for the believer. We can overcome our angst, our depression, our worry by remembering the great things God has done, and singing His praises.

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8)

“I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, and my spirit ponders.” (Psalm 77:6)

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19)

The Lord sings over us (See The Lord Sings Over Us).

Wakefulness in the night is a great time to sing to Him.

My book is now available through KristinPSnyder.com or Amazon!

When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fearbad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and help them emerge stronger on the other side.

This has been quite a year! And its only summer.

I completed the final edits on my book. My book was released!

I’ve had four eye surgeries and a gazillion doctor visits.

I’m tired. I’m low energy. I’m not getting much done.

At the moment, I’m not even rejoicing that my book was released after 6 ½ years of work. I’m an author! An author! Me! This is definitely something worth celebrating.

At the moment, I’m not even rejoicing that the eye surgeries corrected the underlying conditions and that my vision is improving. What a wonderful blessing! The Lord answered a multitude of prayers. I have so many reasons to be grateful.

Am I too tired to rejoice?

Is Satan trying to steal my joy?

Elijah

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prepare a sacrifice but put no fire to it. Despite crying and cutting themselves, Baal did not answer them. Then Elijah prepared a sacrifice for the Lord and poured water over the offering and the wood. After prayer, “the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” The people fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, He is God.”

After this dramatic victory, Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life and Elijah ran for his life. He asked the Lord that he might die for “I am no better than my fathers.” (Read the whole story in 1 Kings 18 and 19.)

Depression followed victory. A low followed a high. Valleys come after mountains.

The Lord did three things for Elijah:

1. An angel provided food and water. Elijah slept.
2. The Lord listened to Elijah.
3. Elijah listened to the Lord, who came to him in a gentle whisper.

What we should do

What we should do when we’ve gone from the mountaintop to the valley:

1. Expect it.
2. Remember what the Lord has done for you. Don’t forget the highs.
3. Take care of yourself physically. Practice good nutrition. Exercise sensibly. Listen to music or read. Rest. (See Rest for the Glory of God.)
4. Talk to the Lord about how you’re feeling. Pray.
5. Read the Bible. Listen to Him.

Gratitude

I am so grateful He prompted me to write When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? I’m grateful (and astonished) it has been published.

I am immeasurably thankful my vision has been saved and is improving.

When I pay attention to those five action points, when I praise and thank Him for His blessings, I am reenergized.

How about you?

My book is now available through KristinPSnyder.com or Amazon!

When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fearbad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and help them emerge stronger on the other side.

True or False:

1. I’m a nice person so everyone will like me. True or False?
2. I work hard to get good results so I’ll have a job until retirement. True or False?
3. I’m a good person so I’ll go to heaven. True or False?
4. God loves me so nothing bad will happen. True or False?

Process versus Outcome:

We have responsibility over our thoughts, words, and deeds, but we do not control the outcome.

We can be nice, loving, and giving, and yet the Bible guarantees some will hate us (Matthew 10:22; 24:9).

We can work hard, and even get good results for our companies, but that does not guarantee that we’ll keep our jobs (e.g. James 4:14).

Whatever happens, we continue to be accountable for our own actions.

Presumption

We can keep our own moral code—perfectly, but that does not obligate God to justify us (Luke 18:10-14).

God does love His children with an infinite, everlasting love. But that does not mean this life will be smooth sailing. We are told to expect trouble (John 16:33).

We are encouraged to walk in a manner worthy of our Lord, but that does not mean the path will be easy.

We get into trouble when we presume that, since God loves us, and He does, we will get what we want. We are in a deep pit if we think we can control God. God is not controllable. God works all things after the counsel of HIS will (Ephesians 1:11).

Throughout my eye trouble, I prayed that He would restore my vision. My book was going to be released soon (June 25), I wanted to be able to read it; I wanted to be able to promote it. Surely God wants me to be in service to Him. Surely that means I’ll be able to see. He is a good God. God loves me. He created my eyes. Surely…surely…

God is in control

But, throughout this trial, I was conscious that God would be very bit as loving, very bit as good, if He took my sight from me. If He did that, He would have plans for me to serve Him as a blind person. Honestly, I did not like that alternative, but I determined to trust Him regardless of the outcome.

We are not in control. Repeat: We are NOT in control. NOT! NOPE! NEVER!

But the One who is in control loves us. We can—we must—trust Him.

My book is now available through KristinPSnyder.com or Amazon!

When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fearbad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and help them emerge stronger on the other side.