Skip to main content

“Let’s not allow fear to condition us to expect the worst.”

A thought by Christine Caine from her book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure (p. 53). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

You see, we have a choice in the way we face the unexpected happenings of our world.

Christine says, “I believe God wants us to get to a place of such great faith that we anticipate the gains that are coming into our lives as we continue to trust him no matter what we’re facing. It’s part of how we become more like Christ.

“When Jesus was on the cross, facing death, he thought of more than his immediate suffering. He thought of more than the fierceness of the enemy’s attack. He thought of us, and what his present circumstance would produce in our future. And he showed us how to live free from the fear that inevitably comes with the unexpected. Later, the apostle Peter drew on Christ’s example when he wrote:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake in Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 PETER 4:12–13 NKJV, emphasis added.

Christine then says, “’Do not think it strange.’ We could read that as: Do not be afraid of the unexpected. Do not think, What next? Let’s not allow fear to condition us to expect the worst. Instead, let’s courageously move through every new event expecting God to do something great with our lives, trusting him at a new level of faith.

“When we partake in Christ’s sufferings, we resist the temptation of limiting God to our present understanding, believing that he is writing the story of our lives that will inevitably lead to a conclusion of victory. We resist the temptation to panic, to think it is the end, to lose hope for our future. We resist the pressure to worry and stress and be overcome. We resist giving in and quitting. Jesus’s suffering on the cross was something he looked through to the rest of the story—our story—of redemption and salvation and triumph. Yes, he asked God to ‘let this cup pass from me,’ but he moved forward. (Luke 22:42) He mustered his strength, and though tempted with anxiety and fear, even to the point of sweating drops of blood, he still approached the cross fearlessly. He had an eternal perspective that is so different from our natural, short-term thinking.”

And we are called to be like Christ, aren’t we?

Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...
Post a Comment
Read more

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...
Post a Comment
Read more