When God gives you pain and trials, what is the first thing you do? Next time you’re going through deep disappointment, instead of complaining and grumbling, think of it as God’s way of transforming you to become more like Jesus.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. And you’ve probably squeezed many a lemon in your life. And what comes out is pretty bitter; pretty sour, isn’t it? And that’s a good picture of God’s purpose in sending trials. You go through some deep disappointment, a painful injury, a heartbreaking situation and it’s like, well, God squeezing a lemon. When he squeezes hard and the trial becomes overwhelming, what can come out is pretty bitter, pretty sour. We’re peevish, pessimistic; we grumble, complain and, yes, even cast aspersions on God’s character. But here’s the thing: when those sinful attitudes and actions are revealed, only then do we recognize [oh my goodness, guess what] we are not the paragons of virtue we thought we were. And that’s when repentance and redemption happens. That’s when we are transformed, and we become like Jesus. It’s just God’s way of making lemonade in your life!
© Joni and Friends