Thankful for ZOOM and Friends

Thankful for ZOOM and Friends

If you are like me, you have never heard of ZOOM until this pandemic. But I am very thankful for ZOOM because it still brings us together and we feel connected in someway!

Yesterday I was so excited to be able to talk to some of my friends who have gone to Thailand and some who are interested in going to Thailand in the future! We had a ton of fun playing some games, sharing our own hearts, and what we all have been learning through this.

I shared this last night with them and thought it was good to be reminded that we aren’t the only ones going through something…because I’ve been discouraged lately. I’m not going to get on here and be like, “Yay everything is perfect!” But I also have not been bored once though during quarantine. My list of things I want to get done is still a mile long when I’m off the clock from work! (Haha)

But let’s be honest here…when things don’t go as planned we throw our own little pity party in our own little way…don’t we? (Unless I’m the only one that does that and I can see that being true.)

When this happens though, I have to get into the Word of God. I started thinking back to what the people went through in the Bible.

-The 3 Hebrew men getting thrown in the fire.

-Joseph getting sold into slavery by his own brothers then jail.

-Peter going fishing and catching nothing.

-Esther having to come before the King to save the lives of her people, plus her own life.

-Noah and his family going through a world wide flood. (I bet they felt like the world was literally ending.)

-Daniel having to go to the lion’s den for praying.

-David running for his life from Saul who once loved him and now wants him dead.

-Paul in prison and even beaten.

Sometimes I get so focused on what I don’t have or what I want. When I think things should go my way, I have to stop, take a step back and say…”Ok God. What are YOU doing? What do you want ME to learn through this? How is THIS going to strengthen my faith and my walk with God?”

Let’s take a step back though because this virus has not only affected our own community, but the entire world!

And when you’re going through things like our current situation – you can ask how is this going to benefit others? How can I help other people through this too? Because I truly believe the things we go through are not only for us (sometimes they are for our own heart and life) but also for the benefit of others. We need to help them through their trial. You know how to pray for them for you’ve been there, and especially during this time for non-believers to see where you stand in Christ.

Proverbs 16:9 says that, “The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Not in my timing, God’s timing. Not my planning. God’s planning.

Obviously we all had things planned this year. Whether it was mission trips, summer vacations, jobs, graduating high school, college, concerts, sports, family events – everything feels like it got taken away. It has. It shows me though that in this world – everything is temporary. Everything is materialistic. Everything will pass away. Nothing lasts forever. The one thing that still remains is Jesus Christ. The one thing that can’t be taken away is our faith in Him! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So with that being said, just remain faithful to Him. God is always faithful. Remain faithful in your personal prayer time, remain faithful attending church even if it’s virtual at the moment. Remain faithful in tithing for we still need to give to the Lord. Remain faithful in trusting in Him!

You guys all probably know my favorite scripture but it’s Romans 8:28 – “And we KNOW that for those who love God ALL things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

He didn’t say some things will work out ok and some won’t. He said ALL things will work together (meaning good and the bad) all FOR good, the people that love God. I know that each and every one of you love God. I truly believe that.

I know one day we will all be able to look back and see what God was doing. But we never can see the outcome when we are going through it. I don’t think the people in the Bible saw their way out of their problems either.

-The 3 Hebrew men – They made it out alive and it caused King Nebuchadnezzar to believe in the True God.

-Joseph came out from his lowest point in life to second in command in Egypt.

-Peter – Jesus says to Peter to cast his net again and he catches more than enough fish.

-Esther found favor in the King’s sight and God spared her people and her own life.

-Noah and his family lived and saved the animals. They were able to start a new life!

-Daniel made it out alive from the lion’s den. What a testimony!

-David could have killed Saul but instead he spared his life. He become King and was a man after God’s own heart.

-Despite the fact that Paul was in prison, He wrote most of what we read today while he was in confinement. Sometimes God does His greatest work when we are still before Him, and He will fight our battles for us!

Just like God did with these people, He is going to see each and every one of us through. May that give you some hope today!

So I just wanted to encourage you guys with something I shared last night with some of my friends! Don’t worry about tomorrow, God knows what He’s doing. We may not know now, but He tells us in His Word not to worry.

Go and encourage yourself in the Bible and see how God brought His people through their hard times.