Psalm 66:12 [NLT] “We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance. ”
DAILY READING: Romans 14; 1 Samuel 26; Psalm 69
Dr. Mark Seery is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo, New York.
In 2010, Mark Seery and his colleagues reported the result of their study, titled “Whatever Does Not Kill Us: Cumulative Lifetime Adversity, Vulnerability and Resilience,”
They studied a group of more than 2,300 people by asking them to report their lifetime exposure to a list of negative events. In this study the subjects were assessed repeatedly from 2001 to 2004.
Dr. Seery and co-researchers found that some of those exposed to adverse events reported better mental health and well-being outcomes than people with no history of adversity.
They came to the conclusion that while exposure to adverse life events can predict negative effects on mental health and well-being of some people, at the same time they also found that the case was different for some others. For these people, adverse experiences turned around to make them stronger. It helped to breed subsequent resilience in them, with resulting advantages for mental health and well-being.
For this group of people, past adversity ended up helping them to persevere in the face of current stress.
As believers, it is our portion to triumph and become stronger in the face of adversities. A picture of the inner strength in us is reflected in Psalm 92:12 which says that the righteous will flourish like the Palm Tree.
Just like a palm tree, the righteous is destined to survive the storms of life, rise again, and keep prospering.
The destructive force of typhoons and hurricanes can bend the palm tree, even flatten it almost horizontal to the ground, yet it rarely can break it. Rather than weaken the palm tree’s root system, the storm ends up actually strengthening it.
This is a picture of the believers’ life. We are born to overcome the world. The truth is that God has equipped us with everything we need to be overcomers. Though the storms will come and winds will blow, yet through it all we are destined to be more than conquerors. Certainly, no weapon formed against us will prosper!
Though we may go through fire and through water, certainly, God will bring us out into a wealthy place.
(Psalms 66:12).
Despite the tough times, you will come back—even stronger than you were before. Indeed every setback will only serve to set you up for a greater comeback. What was meant for your harm God will turn it all around for your good.
God knew that you would experience times of being stretched and being compressed. However, He has designed the storms to end up making you better. You may bend, but you are getting right back up again!
God not only gives us the strength to bounce back, but He also promises to restore in our lives double for all our troubles. [Zechariah 9:12]
Sometimes, the reason for the storm, is because you are about to step into greater doors of destiny and therefore there are many adversaries.
However, the key to surviving and thriving through the tough times is being rooted in God. Time spent blessing the Lord through prayer and worship—regardless of your circumstances—will make you become grounded in faith, ready to weather any storm.
Through diligent study of God’s Word, we develop deep spiritual roots that make us immovable.
The Word births faith in our hearts that makes us unshakeable. While the world around us may be trembling in fear and anxiety, like Paul, we can boldly say ‘none of these things move me!’.
Our hope is in Christ the solid rock upon which we stand, while all other grounds are sinking sand.
Through Christ, we will keep flourishing even in the most difficult of times. Though the rain, wind and storm may come, like the house built on the rock, we will stand and never fall.
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the grace to stay rooted in Your Word and to always abide strong in faith. I know that You are too faithful to fail me, and no matter the trials and temptations, I will keep thriving, flourishing and rising higher in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
True success is not verifiable in the fact that a man has never fallen before but in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up. WORDBITE 222.
Shalom!
@GOODHEART- EKWUEME .
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