THE MINISTRY OF LINDA L. JOHNSON

  
Blog #6 
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On this Resurrection weekend, God has had me to just stop and meditate on him.  Jesus, the Son of Man was sacrificed and slain for the crime of blasphemy.  He claimed to be the Son of God.  Little did the men know at the time, that He was telling the truth as He is the Son of God and cannot lie.
It is written in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him. Who have been called according to his purpose.” It’s hard to believe the things we consider to be bad are considered to work together for our good at times.   How can fornication, loneliness, a barren womb, drug addiction, fear, sickness, or debt, work together for the good of those who love him?  Consider Jesus’s life.  He came to die.  His entire purpose in life was to die.  We now know why that was necessary and considered good.  For he was the lamb that was slain that we may be reconciled to God.  That is a good thing for mankind. 

However, I’d like you to place yourself back in the time of Jesus.  Jesus had healed others, opened blind eyes, raised Lazarus from the dead, delivered men from demons, yet he could not save himself from death?  The people were confused.  They had thought this was the Son of God, The Messiah.  They didn’t understand why he would give himself to die if he was the king. He should have saved himself!   If I’m honest, I would have thought the very same thing at the time because the full story had not been written.  Because we have the Bible and Christ lives within us, we know Jesus chose to die to save us from our sins.  And we know that all that he went through was not in vain.  There was a purpose for each and everything that occurred in his life, including his gruesome death.

Why then do we question when trials occur in our life?  Why do we fear and try to chase away obstacles?  Yes, sometimes the storm comes and it is not of Christ, but sometimes it is.  God is trying to strengthen us and teach us a lesson to increase in Him.  How can we know God as a provider if we’re never lacking?  How can we know God as a healer if we’re never been sick?  How can our faith increase in Him if we are never faced with anything?  We cannot. 
Sometimes, God has to send us storms to develop us. 

Most of my life was lived on the straight and narrow path.  I thought I knew God, but I didn’t really.  I had accepted God’s salvation but I had not allowed him to be Lord of my life.  Sometimes I didn’t understand how others got into certain predicaments and would be judgmental towards them.  That is when the Lord tested me and I failed miserably!  I was an adulteress for 3 ½ years.  I now could see how this could happen and why this happens. I was ashamed for a long period of time. I wondered how I had gotten to that state of being, but then I made Jesus Lord of my life and asked him to deliver me.  He took that shame away, lifted my head and now I can sympathize with others and feel their pain from place I could not before I went through this myself.  Now I’m not wishing this on any of you, but God used this sinful period in my life to teach me how to forgive others. Love others and minister to others in this predicament.  At the time I blamed God for all the hurt and pain I felt he led me into.  “Why God, why did you allow this to happen?”  Of course this wasn’t God’s fault, it was mine, but it is my testimony to say that if I had not experienced that level of brokenness and pain from this period of adultery, I would have never gotten to the point in life where I asked him to be my Lord.  Now almost 2 years later, I can say,“I see now Lord!  I understand and I’m thankful to have gone through that painful, confusing time in my life.  For if I had not, I would not know how marvelous and loving you are oh God!”

I now look upon others from a place of love and compassion.  Having fallen short, as we all have, I don’t judge others in the place they’re at, I just try to love and accept them.  I want others to experience the great love of the Father.  I want him to speak to your heart and guide your path.  Take away guilt, shame, fear, break generational curses and deliver you from any stronghold you may be facing!

I ask you today to look deep inside yourself and have a conversation with your God.  Do you really know him and love him?  Are you allowing God to steer your wheel or are there areas in your life where you are taking the wheel back, especially when storms arise? Though often scary, I would challenge you to allow him to steer your wheel and remember Romans 8:28 which states, “And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him. Who have been called according to his purpose.”Although you cannot see it right now, everything happens for a reason.  Ask him to help you navigate through the storm.  Ask him to teach you and most of all trust him that at the proper time he will deliver you.
God bless you,
-By Sister Felicia