One thing that is true about life is that obstacles will never cease to be in our way. We will always face challenges, have setbacks, go through trials and tribulations and many times feel so overwhelmed that we just want to give up. What we must realize about these obstacles however is that they don't come into our life in vain. If we allow ourselves to, we can learn the lessons from those setbacks, trials and challenges and become better because of them. When we overcome our present circumstances, we will become better, wiser and stronger than we were before those obstacles came our way. We will also face new challenges with the forethought of knowing that we will become even better in our future when we overcome the new challenges just as we became better in times past. (Psalm 147:3-11) (Isaiah 54:10)

No matter what you may be going through, I want you to know that it will get better. The darkness will not last, the raging storms will not continue, but you must have the fortitude, the willingness and the faith to stay in the fight and know that you will come forth victorious if you don't give up. Believe that you and God are a majority and because you trust in His plan for your life, you will receive every good thing that God has in store for you. We just have to be disciplined enough to know that every present misery will be overshadowed by joy, peace and contentment that surpasses all understanding. (Isaiah 43:18-19) (1 Chronicles 16:25-29)

In times of discouragement we have to think of our life as going through a tunnel, but if we keep going forward, we will quickly see the light that comes at the end of every tunnel that we may go through in life. Stay strong, stay in faith and stay determined to come through the darkness because when you do, you will be greeted by the most beautiful of Sunshine's.

I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to see that every challenge does serve a purpose in teaching us lessons that we could not have learned otherwise.


THROUGH A WRINGER

When I was a little boy we used to have an old fashioned wringer washing machine. This was an early type of washing machine in which you had to hand feed the freshly washed clothes through a pair of moving rolling pins to squeeze the extra water out before drying. I often wondered how those clothes felt going through them. This curiosity was painfully ended one day when I was helping my Mom feed the clothes into them and got my own fingers caught instead. Needless to say, I was far more careful after that.

Usually after we finished washing the clothes my Mom would hang them out on the clothes line to dry. I would hand her the wooden clothes pins as she hung them and help her fold the freshly dried clothes a few hours later. I can still remember how wonderful they smelled after warming in God's sunshine all afternoon. I would hold them up to my face and delight in their warmth, cleanness, and Heavenly scent.

I know that sometimes it can feel as if life is putting us all though a wringer washer. The troubles and stresses of life always seem to want to squeeze and flatten every bit of peace and happiness out of us. Sometimes our whole day feels like my fingers did that time when I was a careless young boy. It is up to us, however, to not let ourselves stay flattened like an old, wet pair of pants. It is up to us to pick ourselves up and warm our hearts and souls again in the sunshine of God's love. It is up to us to choose the Heavenly scent of love and joy moment by moment to refresh our lives and to share with the world.

I hope then that no matter how flattened you get by life at times you can still rise up to choose more joy and love. I hope that no matter how many times you are put through a wringer you can still come out stronger, better, and closer to God.

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 20:6-9 “Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His Holy Heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”

James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Psalm 23:1-4 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today's Selected Poem: HE IS...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem44.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: DON'T DOUBT GOD'S POWER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony148.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry