ETERNITY

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Obstacles as Opportunities

"Wait for the Lord; let your heart be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord." ~ Psalm 27:14

Learning to see obstacles as opportunities takes time. Recalling certain truths can help our perspective:

• God is at work:

As barriers remain in place and our situation seems unchanged, God is orchestrating people and events to move His plan forward. He works silently, invisibly, and effectively.

• God prepares the way:

He has already decided in His mind which hindrances to remove and which to leave unaltered. For the obstacles that remain, the Lord will arrange a way around them or fit them into His plan. What He has determined will be accomplished.

• God requires our cooperation:

He wants us to be ready to face difficult situations. Through His Word, He communicates what we need to know and also equips us:

"Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen." ~ Hebrews 13:20-21

• God is personally involved:

He wants to develop in us a greater sensitivity to His presence. Through Scripture, prayer, and other believers, we can receive the assurance that the Lord is near.

• God gives clear instruction:

He does not bring confusion. Whether we receive His direction in stages or all at once, He asks us to trust in Him rather than our own thinking:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Facing challenges involves courage, patience, and faith. It takes courage to accept the presence of barriers, to move in step with God, and to do what He asks. Patience is required as we wait for Him to equip us and reveal His plan. Faith is necessary for us to trust God with the outcome and to focus on obeying Him.

https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/obstacles-as-opportunities