We’re Not Promised a Rose Garden!

Let me get straight to the point – LIFE IS DIFFICULT SOMETIMES!  I think that anyone who will read this entry will agree with me.  Life’s road is full of turns, bumps, drunken drivers, fallen power lines, and downed trees.  The spiritual journey that we have to make was never given with the promise that it would be easy.

The PLAIN TRUTH is that the journey can be rough traveling at times.  In the ministry, you never know what will be coming next.  The phone at the house rings and you just don’t know what the situation on the other end of the phone will be.  Letting alone ministry, life is equally uncertain.  In fact, I have learned in this life that the only constant is the fact that even though we don’t know what lies ahead on the road of life, Christ does.

It is encouraging to me to know that before my days were, God had already ordained my days.  He knew the journey that He had already laid out for me and He knew the pitfalls, potholes, and roadblocks that I would encounter on my journey.  So then, why did he allow these “snares” to be placed in the way of His child who’s desire is to do nothing more than what the Master has planned and purposed for him to do?  He allowed them in order that I might trust Him more.

“I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, precious Jesus, Savior, frind.  An I know that He is with me, twill be with me to the end.”

“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him; how I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, prescious Jesus, O for grace to trust Him more.”

Trust is the ultimate answer.  We must learn to trust the Lord!  Mama always told me, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”  We need to learn that God allows adversity in our lives for a reason.  James says in Chapter 1 of his epistle to ”Consider it all joy, my brethren, WHEN you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”  Endurance enables us to move past whatever stands in our way of living for the Lord and bring glory and honor to His name.

When you come to a pothole, a tree down, even a sinkhole, don’t let it destroy you, or turn you around headed backwards on the Spiritual journey.  As I heard just the other day, we need to learn to build a bridge and get over it!  Move ahead!  Perservere!  Keep the faith!  Trust in the Lord!  Even though we are not promised a rose garden, an easy way all of the time, in the midst of the trials and the journey, there are flowers to smell and blessings to be received and given.  Let’s all strive to keep on keepin’ on for the Lord, allowing Him to be our authority and our guide!