I recently watched a sermon from one of my favorite speakers. It gave me some great perspective! The entire sermon was built around the question, "When life hands you troubles, your heart is a megaphone. What is your heart saying to the world?"
What a concept I hadn't really thought of before. When someone is struggling and going through troubles and they do not have Christ in their lives, or have not fully put their trust in Him it is often negatives that we hear. It is depression, frustration, disbelief, and questions as to why God allowed such a thing or if He is even real anymore to them. Those actions and words are a megaphone to the world.
Opposite is if someone has prepared their heart for such troubles, their heart typically beams things like, "God will work a miracle from this situation, God has overcome the world and will see me through, despite this circumstance I will see better days, or simply their joy and peace radiates through them and is also a megaphone.
Which megaphone would you rather hear from? Which megaphone do you want to be?
When life is going easy and seems like smooth sailing, it is time to prepare for trouble because the bible doesn't say "IF" trouble comes, but "WHEN". If we are prepared and have the right relationship with Christ and find our peace and motives in Him, then when trouble comes, we are equipped to endure life's troubles in peace.
I surely was not equipped to endure the wild rapid ride of my crumbling marriage, then divorce, then the struggles of single-parenthood. It made for a very depressing and frustrating time. It wasn't until I spent time in God's Word and meditated on the promises that He has for me and for my son that I started to put my trust in him. Am I prepared for troubles? Well, I would like to think that I am a lot closer to peace during trouble than I used to be. Every day it is a commitment to spending time in prayer, reading God's Word and keeping my mouth shut and my ears open long enough to hear what He has in store for me. Many wonderful moments are experienced when I just listen.
As this season marks the beginning of another year, let's make 2013 be the year of preparation for what our megaphone will be broadcasting when trouble finds us. Let us also be aware of what message we are currently sending through our life reactions.
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Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1: 2-4
Awesome, awesome article. So needed to hear this. I commit to focus on making sure that my megaphone is broadcasting love and positivity. Peace be with you. thanks for such an awesome message.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. Fantastic post!
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