As I was reading this morning out of one of my favorite devotional books, I came across a scripture that really spoke to me this morning (even through the morning haze of sleepiness that I can't seem to get past).
"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider; God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:14
I've had a very challenging year personally....I've gone through extremely rough times that have led to an extremely close walk with the Lord. When you're knocked to your knees, you can choose to stay there, or look upwards. Looking upwards is AMAZING....because you'll find the Father's outstretched hand waiting to help you up. I can't even begin to put into adequate words the mercy and healing that God has shown me this year.
For some reason, many of us have a harder time with a strong prayer life when things are going well. God wants us to live joyfully, so why do we struggle there?
The verse in Ecclesiastes tells us that God has made the good times as well as the bad. We have to know one in order to know the other.
I need to learn to be equally close to God in all times....I want to walk closely and abundantly with Him regardless of my circumstances. The Father knows that I need balance, and without the contrast of good and bad, I wouldn't be able to be grateful for what He's done for me and what He's pulled me through. I wouldn't be able to enjoy the good if I had not suffered and learned from the bad. I wouldn't be able to get through the bad, if I never had been able to appreciate the blessings and good times in life that God has given to me.
I'm so thankful for God's wisdom...and that He walks with me through it all.
