Greater Than

When you believe that you can’t handle any more of life’s pressure, you discover something beyond your aching heart. With His strength, you find that nothing is impossible with God. With His grace, you can handle what otherwise would destroy you. You can face heart-wrenching pain, and still calmly and carefully move forward in His purpose. Does it feel good? Of course, it doesn’t feel good. But life is not about how you feel. It is about His truth for your life, and discovering His potential. Allowing Him to develop good character traits, you will lack nothing. What might have been a struggle shall become a springboard to greater spiritual maturity. What might have destroyed, shall only draw you closer to His Word and His promise that He will never leave or forsake you.

          “Make every effort,” Peter wrote, “to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV).

 Peter experienced failure and then Christ’s forgiveness. He experienced the lowest heartbreak that denial brings, and then the highest joy the Holy Spirit imparts.  But as he walked through the difficult years of sharing his faith, he learned God’s purpose in every trial. Feelings were fleeting, but the truth of God was unwavering and constant. Commitment to his calling was steadfast because the trials of life taught him. If goodness always increased—if knowledge continually grew—if self-control was consistently applied— if perseverance constantly anchored him, Peter would be effective and productive in his faith. The work of his hands, born of faith and not of self, would flourish in God’s purpose.

What does God which to bring forth in you?  What right now in your life is trying to defeat you?  Look at what you face in a different light. It is not meant to defeat, but to inspire victory.  You are made virtuous and righteous by His loving grace. Make every effort to allow Him to develop you, and you will discover something you might otherwise have missed. Greater is God in you than anything else in this world.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com