“Because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

One of my seminary professors used to say, “Until you’ve been to the bottom of the abysssssss, your faith will always remain shallow.”

I never liked it when he said that. Whatever the abysssss was, the way he said it, I didn’t want any part of it.

That’s kind of the way I feel about pain and suffering. Yeah. I know. The Bible says that suffering produces Godly character and hope. But, come on…pain and suffering.

You know…Pain hurts. Suffering stinks.

So what’s wrong with a shallow, characterless, hopeless faith?

That’s just the problem. That’s not good either.

So if you find yourself going through a season of pain, loss, and suffering, take note. God is preparing you, training you, and setting you up for a season of growth and maturity.

Think about lifting weights in the gym or running. The only way we get into shape and improve is through pain and suffering. But today’s pain is in preparation for tomorrow’s strength.

Because of who our God is, the pain, suffering, and loss you are experiencing today will lead to the strength you will enjoy tomorrow.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Reminder:

• God is good
• God loves you and wants what is best for you
• God sees you. You are never alone
• God knew today’s world needed you
• God has great things planned for you
• God has forgiven your past so that your past cannot imprison you
• God loves you more than you can ever imagine or understand
• God is with you

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Oops! I accidentally did God’s will!

Nope. That rarely happens.

When God’s will happens, it’s almost always because a person deliberately chose to act, obey, and follow God’s will. God’s will is always intentional.

What that means is that you have to choose God’s will. I know. You already know that.

But, what I mean is, it begins when you wake up in the morning. You have to choose and decide God’s will from the start. You have to intentionally choose to decide on God’s will throughout the day. You see, doing God’s will is a predetermined decision.

If you wait moment by moment to decide on God’s will, the likelihood is that it’s probably not going to happen. Long before you have to decide, the decision to do God’s will needs to be pre-determined.

When we live in God’s will it’s because we predetermined to please God more than pleasing ourselves or others. When we do that decisions to do God’s will becomes easier because you predetermine to obey. You don’t even have to think about it. It’s already been decided.

Why wouldn’t we choose God’s will? It would be crazy not to choose God’s will for our lives when God wants what is best for us and God knows better than we do what is best for us.

So, do it. Right now. Predetermine that you will choose to obey God and follow his will. Living in God’s will is always intentional. This is why we were created in Christ Jesus.