This attack is producing a blessing
In today’s podcast, I told you about my son Kedar and how he had an allergic reaction to eating pistachio nuts yesterday.
Before, when Kedar ate pistachios, nothing happened. So, as you can imagine, it was an absolute shock to see his immune system’s response to the tree nuts he once enjoyed with no problem.
The allergic reaction got pretty extreme! Kedar had to go and see the doctor. Thankfully, he was okay. He was given a steroid treatment and an EpiPen, and the doctor ordered blood work.
Not once during the process, however, did Kedar worry. He kept smiling and laughing in the middle of this severe allergy attack. You know what? That’s just Kedar’s nature; he doesn’t get too rattled about anything. In that way, he reminds me of his father.
What if we behaved like Kedar and kept smiling when facing an attack of the enemy? What if we rejoiced and didn’t allow ourselves to get too rattled? What if we displayed our Heavenly Father’s attributes, whatever we were going through?
James 1:2 NLT says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
That word joy is the Greek word “chara,” pronounced khar-ah'. It means, cheerfulness, calm delight, or to have exceeding joyfulness. So then, when trials, adversity, and temptation come, we should approach them, and all the unpleasantness they bring, with cheerfulness, calm delight and exceeding joyfulness.
Why?
Well, the following verse tells us why. Verse 3 says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
In other words, when you are tried and tested, it’s a growth opportunity. It makes you better, stronger, and more able to endure. Then, the news gets even better in verse 4, which says, “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
“God is setting you up to bless you. The Lord is going to use the very thing the enemy used to destroy you to increase you, favor you, and shower you with His abundance!”
This word is so powerful and exciting, because it tells you that what you’re going through right now is only developing you, maturing you, and positioning you for increase. This trial is producing a greater harvest of blessings. My friend, the outcome will be so good, no matter how bad it feels today.
Keep this in mind as you go through challenges, and it will be easier to approach turbulent seasons with calm delight and exceeding joyfulness. Stand on the promises of God’s word when you’re under attack, when you’re in the middle of a trial, when the storm clouds of trouble make it rain on you, and when the enemy comes in like a flood.
Despite the hardship, keep smiling. Keep dancing. Keep praising. Keep rejoicing. Keep knowing beyond any doubt that this attack is producing a blessing. That’s the word God has for you today. If you can keep trusting Him through it, He’ll keep blessing you and causing you to rise above the adversity and emerge from the fiery furnace of affliction as pure gold!
To remind you that this attack is producing a blessing, I’m stirring the first portion of Genesis 50:20 ESV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that everything that appears to be working against you right now is really working for you. God will get glory out of this, and you will emerge from this attack far more blessed than you’ve ever been before!
Now, let’s pray.
God, I thank You for the trials, tests, attacks and struggles, because they are building me up, even though the enemy is trying to use them to tear me down. I praise You that when I come out of this, I will receive the greater blessings You have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
