This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Sometimes I like to close out the week with a reflective message. So instead of walking through another Biblical passage about David’s life, let’s think about what we have learned this week.
We started out the week with my testimony of Ethan Elijah Piña. Since that message, Isabella has been discharged from the hospital and we have made daily trips to be with Ethan in the NICU. I will make the connection between Ethan and David before we close.
As we walked through David’s life this week we got to see him maintaining his integrity while he waited on God’s timing, we saw him fight to take possession of what God had destined him to have, we learned that it took about 20 years for what the prophet Samuel said to a teenage David to come to pass, and we learned that when it was all said and done, David was in position as king for the sake of the people. All David endured during the 20-year-rollercoaster period between the day Samuel visited his home in Bethlehem and the day he took the throne in Jerusalem helped prepare him for his assignment as king. I am not saying that God did all the bad things that happened to David, as if He needed bad things to happen to prepare David. No, I am convinced that God can prepare us without the bad things. However, I am saying that there are many factors that contributed to what David experienced — like David’s decisions, the decisions of others, and the working of both God and satan — and God knew, before the foundations of the world, what would happen. So while God did not cause it all to happen, He used it all to help prepare David for his assignment as king, so that he could BE a blessing to the people of Israel.
Getting back to Ethan, I believe I can say the same thing about him. I don’t believe God made Isabella give birth to Ethan at 28 weeks to teach us something or to force Ethan to live in the NICU for the first few weeks of his life. There are many reasons why these things happen and I may not know until I get to heaven why this happened to us. But what I do know is this: God knew this was going to happen, He prepared us for it, and He will use this for a greater purpose. I did not know it, but about 13% of babies are born premature and when you consider the fact that there are approximately 130 million babies born throughout the world each year, that is a significant number. The outpour of love we have received this week has been tremendous and the testimonies of parents who had premature births are pouring in, telling us of their experiences (both good and bad). I never knew anything about premature births prior to this week, but I now know that God will use this situation for His glory. I know the purpose of my life is bigger than just me and my household, so everything I go through, both good and bad, helps prepare me to for my life’s assignment.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick nuggets:
1. God does not do everything that happens to you, but He knew it would happen and He is able to make it work for your good.
2. Everything that happens to you, good or bad, can help prepare you for your life’s assignment.
3. Your life experiences help make you who you are. They won’t always be pleasant, but if you keep the proper perspective you can find God and His purpose in every situation.
4. Your life is bigger than the pursuit of your comfort. The Lord wants to make Kingdom-impact through you.
5. If you keep the proper attitude you will be able to enjoy the ride. It’s not always going to be easy, and storms will come, but if you keep your eyes on Jesus along the way you will be able to dance in the rain.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your overwhelming goodness, kindness, mercy and grace towards me. I give You Praise IN all things, for this is Your will for me. Even when I can’t thank You FOR it, I will thank You IN it. I look unto You as both the author and finisher of my faith. You keep me in perfect peace because my eyes are stayed on You and I trust You. You deliver me from the hand of the enemy and no weapon formed against me is able to prosper. I know I will experience unpleasant things in life. And I know everything I go through did not come from You. But even though You may not have done it, You knew it would happen before it happened and You prepared me for it. Furthermore Father, You are able to take the not-so-good things that happen to me and turn them around for my good. I declare what You have already decreed, and that is: “All things work together for my good,” because I love You Lord and I am called according to Your purpose. All my life experiences are helping to prepare me my form life’s assignment. I may not like everything I experience, but I go through the experience with my eyes stayed on You, knowing that I will thrive, and not just survive. I maintain a proper attitude, I don’t allow what happens externally to dictate how I feel internally, and while I may not be able to prevent every storm, I am able to dance in the rain when they come. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
