You may have heard this story before, but it’s a thought provoker:

In a country long ago, an aging farmer, went to his barn and found that his horse had run away.  His neighbor, always alert to what was happening, said, "Oh, how terrible," but the farmer replied, "You never know."

The next morning the horse returned accompanied by another horse.

To this the neighbor exclaimed, "Oh, how wonderful!" and again the farmer said, "You never know."

That afternoon, as the farmer's son rode the horse, he was thrown off and broke his leg.  The neighbor said, "That is horrible," but the farmer repeated, "You never know."

The following day soldiers came looking to press recruits into the army but seeing only the aging farmer and his injured son they left. To this the neighbor said, "What a wonderful stroke of luck," and the farmer answered, "You never know."

And so the story goes on daily, doesn't it?

As this story implies - through the responses of the farmer and his neighbor, a major portion of a our reactions to the happenings we face in life are based upon our perceptions, the way we view (think about) the event or situation.

Is the situation really what it seems to be?  You never know until you are willing to think about it (see it) as God sees it.

One of the insights that God is bringing home to my understanding as my wife Patsy and I have interacted with the unique variety of friends who’ve gone through a wellness session here at the Black Hills Health and Education Center, is that, even though a person may not be able to change the events occurring around him, that person does have control over how he chooses to view or think about those events – and how he chooses to respond to them.

For example:  One person can view a flat tire on his car as the end of the world – another person can see the flat tire as the opportunity to take a break from the rush of life.

It’s becoming very clear to me – anyone who is willing reconsider their personal viewpoint of a threatening situation, to allow themselves to consider their particular situation through the eyes of God -- with a heartfelt willingness to bring their understanding of these difficulties into harmony with His all-knowing wisdom – they are actually enabled to see their trials in a hope-filled light and empowered to be freed from the debilitating emotions produced from their misunderstanding of God’s providence, even though they may not be completely freed from all the pain of their physical condition!

Friend, no matter what you are experiencing – it is possible to be freed from the negative emotions that may be controlling your life right now – it is possible to grow into a life of continual peace that Jesus offers us and desires all of us to experience!  He tells us in John 14:27,  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

What has God given us as a gold standard of truth to examine our perceptions and responses to life’s events and situations, particularly those that threaten our sense of well-being?  Through what means does He communicate His peace, comfort, and hope, and the healing that transcends human understanding?   Through the Bible, the inspired word of God!

Psalms 107:20 – “He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions!”  See also Romans 15:4.

Let me give you five hope-filled Bible texts that have freed me personally to experience the freedom-filled fruits of the Spirit regardless of the challenging trials God has allowed me to face thus far:

#1 – Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says  the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

In whatever situation He allows me to face, what freedom to accept as a fact that the only thoughts that God has for me are thoughts of peace!

I’m afraid many of us catch ourselves responding to God’s efforts to help us like the woman who was driving home from work one evening and noticed in her rearview mirror – a semi-truck tailgating her.   She became more concerned when every time she tried to speed up to put some distance between her and the truck, the trucker would stay right on her tail!  She spotted an off-ramp to a gas station and pulled onto it to head for help.  The trucker stayed right on her tail.  Pulling up to the gas station pumps, she jumped out of her car and ran into the station and cried for the attendant to call 911.  Looking back to her car, she saw the truck driver jump out of his truck, run over to her car, jerk the back door open, and pull a struggling man off the floor of her back seat.  In a few short moments the police pulled into the gas station and assisted the truck driver in subduing and handcuffing a man who turned out to be a convicted rapist! 

What appeared to that woman as a mad trucker trying to do her harm was actually a sincere unknown friend, who, from the high vantage point of his truck cab, had seen the danger she was in, and determined to save her from incredible danger! 

Is there a lesson in this story for us?   I wonder how often we – because of the way we are thinking about a threatening situation – fall into the same experience – running away from God’s help, rather than thanking and praising Him for the way of deliverance and healing He offers! 

How often I’ve found myself, like the neighbor in the opening story, immediately reacting to situations, judging things as good or bad, without giving God the opportunity to reveal to me His viewpoint concerning what’s happening.  How about you?

How much better is it for us, instead of staying in an unhealthy reactive condition, rather, when a situation that appears threatening to us crops up, to remember that no matter what is happening, God’s thoughts for us are only for our best and eternal interests! 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says  the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

above: . . .”

What an wonderful peace it is to accept the fact that the enemy truly has no power

at all against us except that which God allows for our personal growth!

For someone desiring to follow Christ, just like the weigh-lifting equipment in an

exercise gym, trials are nothing more than the SPIRITUAL WEIGHT-LIFTING

EQUIPMENT GOD CALLS US TO EXERCISE OUR FAITH MUSCLES ON –

NOT TO HURT US, BUT TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH!  See James 1:2-4.

Now what does God promise us – when He does allow something that

threatens our sense of well-being to confront us?  

We find the answer in promise #3, 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has

overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not

allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will

also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

This text is a key to answering a dilemma that many Christians have struggled with when facing difficult trials in their lives. 

The challenging dilemma is found in Psalms 34:19 – “Many are the

afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Delivered out of how many of our afflictions?  All!

Is the Lord lying?  We’ve all seen someone who has been a faithful, fruitful Christian go all the way to their death expecting God to deliver them – and He never did – OR DID HE? 

According to 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- I believe God did deliver them!  In what way?  DELIVERANCE – NOT FROM PHYSICAL DEATH – BUT FROM THE TEMPTATION TO TURN FROM GOD BECAUSE OF THEIR TROUBLE - AND DISOBEY HIM!  God provided them the necessary power of His grace to bear the trial and remain faithful to Him through the difficult situation like Daniel and his friends in Babylon, like Jesus. 

Which leads us to text #4, a challenging – yet incredibly hope-filled call of God  found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Can you think of a godly reason why a follower of Jesus Christ can give thanks in everything?  Well, here’s an important one:

Text #5 – Romans 8:28 – “For we know that all things work together for good, for them who love God, who are the called according to His purpose!”

We never know how something is going to turn out, do we?  But God does!

But what a restful peace to know this – no matter what happens, God’s thoughts toward us are only thoughts of peace to give us a future and a hope.  What freedom to know He will never allow us to be tempted and tried beyond the strength He provides us to remain faithful to Him through the trial.  What an energizing calling, to give thanks for everything He allows us to experience because we know – we know – we know that everything He allows will work together for our best and eternal good!  Praise God for these incredible promises!  He never lies (Numbers 23:19)!  And because of Christ's sacrificial life and death, a way has been provided for all of us, by our decision to surrender our lives to God’s leading and accept Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, to live an eternal existence free from all evil!  See Revelation 21:3,4. 

So dear friend, take some time daily to know God (John 17:3).  Practice

keeping your mind stayed upon God by choosing to think His thoughts about the threatening situation you may be facing.  And based upon His thoughts found in His word, choose to respond in loving faith to His will, not your own – just like Jesus in His life on earth, “. . . not what I will, but what You will.”  See Isaiah 26:3; Mark 14:36.

I leave you with these encouraging hope-filled words found in perhaps the most

famous book (excluding the Bible), ever written on the life of Christ, entitled

The Desire of Ages, page 528,  “To all who are reaching out to feel the

guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time

when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the

darkest part of their way. ‘The Lord knows how to deliver the godly,’ 2

Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth

with firmer faith and a richer experience.” 

Courage precious friend!  Pastor Dan

	» [- Jul 3, 2008 at 12:58 PM -] Sharon Foster says: Thank you so much for allowing the Lord to speak such womderful words of encouragement to those who are going through grievious trials. God is faithful and if we are willing to see the joy which is set before us, the same way Christ saw the joy set before Him and endured the cross and shame, He is faithful and true to give us that same joy, strenght and peace during our darkest moments.GOD is Faithful, He is soooo faithful! » [- Jul 24, 2008 at 7:28 AM -] Pastor Dan says: Thanks for your comments Sharon. I wholeheartedly agree with you - God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9)! What a joy that soon will be to see Him face to face! Revelation 22:3,4. It will be worth every painful experience we endured by faith in Christ, as we chose to remain faithful to His guiding word, regardless of the difficulty of the situation we faced. James 1:2-4; Matthew 5:11,12; 1 Peter 4:12,13. Courage! » [- Sep 14, 2008 at 7:26 AM -] Doris DeHaney says: After reading these words I know I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I was feeling so depressed about my lonely life and not having finances in order. No job on the horizon. Regrets about my past and what seems like a bleak future. But praise God, I will arise and go to my Father. Thank you for letting God use you to bless my heart. I can go on and see the glass half full, because God has thoughts of peace about me. I will remember that. » [- Sep 15, 2008 at 10:53 AM -] Pastor Dan says: I too thank God, Doris, for His unchanging, unfailing, ability to minister to each of our hearts through His word to bring us hope and healing! Psalm 107:20; Romans 15:4,13. I'm so grateful that regardless of what we are experiencing, He has His way of supplying our every need. Philippians 4:19. What joy to visit with Him in prayer about His exceeding great and precious promises, in faith believing, that whatever may come, "As our days, so shall our strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25. The trial will never exceed the strength that shall be given us to bear it! So keep doing the best you can, my sister, to fulfill the specific responsibilities you have for each day, knowing that whatever may come, strength proportionate to the trial will be given you. We serve a faithful Creator and Redeemer! Isaiah 43:1,2. Courage! Add your comment here... Your Name:  Add Comment Before being published on our web site, your comments will be reviewed by our staff. Only appropriate comments pertaining to this article will be considered. Your IP address will be logged -- please do not abuse our comment system.