Bad Situation? Expect a Blessing!

I don't know how many times people have asked me to pray for them over the years. I am sure you have been asked countless times as well. People will find themselves in a difficult or challenging situation and they immediately want it fixed. They want life to return to normal. I suppose this is normal to want to be normal :-\

In recent months I have faced a challenge unlike any I have ever faced. I have faced many obstacles and difficulties in my life and with patience, prayer, and perseverance I have seen them all through. But this season of challenge seems to be as big as it can possibly be (even though I know it could always be bigger and more challenging).

In many ways you could call what I am going through a bad situation.  But in my preaching over the years I always told my congregants to not fret or stress when things seem bad, tough, difficult, painful, or challenging. I told them that "God causes all things to work together for good for those that love Him ..." (Romans 8:28). I reminded them repeatedly that even in the worst of times they could expect a blessing. I insisted that they not ask God to "fix" the problem but rather have people pray that God would help them see the blessing in the burden.

I am striving to do that same thing now. I am truly expecting God to literally explode in my life in the most gracious of ways. In spite of my weaknesses and failures He has assured me that He loves me and has a wonderful plan for the rest of my life. So, in the bad situation I am expecting a blessing.

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel ... (Phil. 1:12)

The words above from the Apostle Paul are the source of my expectancy. I mean, here was a man in Roman imprisonment and he was actually celebrating the blessings of God. He noted that in the badness of the situation (being in prison) the word of the Lord was still going forward. In fact, his situation was actually motivating other Christians to work even harder to spread the word (vs. 14). To Paul this was such a huge blessing because he viewed his life purpose as the spreading of the gospel. He was actually elated in the bad situation.

This is what I am striving to do. Be elated. Be expectant. Be ready for the blessing to come. In fact, I have already seen some of it come into view.

• I wonder if you can grasp this concept? 
• Can you see the potential for blessing in the midst of the bad situation? 
• Can you actually NOT ask someone to pray that God will "fix" the problem? 
• Can you see that God causes ALL things to work together for God? 
• Can you?

Expect a blessing through the badness of the situation. Remember this is the God that made the greatest sacrifice for you because He loves you. And if He loves you that much, then wouldn't He want to show you His best in even the worst of your situations?

I trust this has been a blessing to you.

Tony Guthrie