In life we sometimes think we need a specific thing to achieve a certain goal. Or to elevate ourselves we need to be in a particular place. We may think if we had the right education, the right amount of money or know the right person we will be able to be who we should be. I used to think like that, if I had this or that, then I would be able to fulfill my purpose. A couple years later God prove that notion wrong. That once I had Him I had everything. No degree could bring me my open doors, no career could elevate me to that high position and no person could take me places that my God could not. Most time we tend to place our hopes and trust in temporary things that can't do anything for us. Scriptures say "some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God", Psalm 20:7. God is the mastermind behind everything that works in our favor. He put things in place, He twists and He connects so we are able to function in the way He wants us. God will allow us to lose everything so we may find our everything in Him. Paul describes this in Philippians 3:8, "Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, My Lord". For His sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God that depends on faith. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death". Paul wanted to know Christ deeper, that everything else He thought he had was loss and empty to him. Nothing counted because he wanted to experience Christ. That is exactly what Jesus wants from us, that He becomes our everything when all is loss. The money, the house, the cars, the job, the relationships, that these things become worthless to us. As believers we are going to be tested, we are going to suffer and this is where we prove our trust and faith in Him. Where do we stand when all we have is Christ Jesus. Do we give up or do we say "God, once I have you, I have everything? Does He enjoy seeing us going through hardships? Does He enjoy seeing us go through pain and hurts? No, but He knows that if He uses it, we will be able to be better disciples for Him. We will see Him in our situation as a Deliver, as a Healer, as our Redeemer, as our Provider and a Savior. Would we experience Him in only just good times? After making a small fortune engineering bridges, monuments, and large buildings, Cesar had aspirations of starting a new endeavor. So he sold his first business and banked the money, planning to reinvest it soon. During that brief window, his government seized all assets held in private bank accounts. In instant, Cesar's life savings evaporated. Choosing not to view the injustice as a cause to complain, Cesar asked God to show him the way forward. And then he simply started over. Job in the Bible tells this story well when he went through many difficulties as well. He questioned himself, should I only accept good and not evil, yet Job did not sin, Job 2:10. Job held on to His trust in God despite losing everything, from his family to his wealth and his health. For all he's been through, God gave him double for all the trouble He put him through. Like Job, Cesar chose to trust God. In a few years he had built a new business more successful than the first. God wants to see our heart posture, when He allows us to go through some things. Are we trusting in luck and chances or are we trusting in His divine grace and favor over our lives. In moments when you feel your hands slipping to let go, allow Him to hold on to you because He will never let you go. So what do we do when we have loss everything? One, keep your focus on Him and His Word. Just as Peter took his focus off Jesus when the wind blew and then he sank. Do not get caught up with what is around you that you sink into your problems and troubles. Put your focus on God and what He said to you through His Word. He uses His Word as comfort and encouragement during your circumstances. Two, keep serving others. Sharing your time, talents and treasures even when you don't feel like it. You will begin to bless others and find yourself being encouraged as well. The poor widow bless and serve Elijah her last meal. In doing this she received an overflow of what she needed. What you are in need of, share it. Three, Give God thanks in your situation, despite what you are going through. When you do that, you will learn to appreciate the stage you are in and be content in whatever you are facing. This shows God you are believing Him in whatever route He chooses for you. God knows what you are facing. He is faithful enough to get you through it and powerful enough to rescue you from it. God did not deliver the three Hebrews boys from the fire, but He met them in it. Going through situations purify us for the next level of where He is taking us. Thank Him in those hard times and difficult moments and see Him work out everything for your good. Our Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for keeping us through difficult times. We may not understand all that you are doing in our lives but help us to trust you. Help us not to lean on our own way of thinking, but to cast all our cares on you, and you will sustain us and you will never let us fall. Let your will be done in our situations as we keep our focus on you. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen. Thanks for watching the message behind the Tee. Hope you were blessed and encouraged. Please like, subscribe and share this video. Remember Jesus loves you purposefully and intentionally.
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