The scripture says, “our faith is tested in the fire of affliction.” That person that did you wrong. That's not random, it's not just a bad break, that's a test.
God is seeing are you going to get bitter, hold a grudge, try to pay them back, or are you going to take the high road and forgive? You didn't get the promotion you deserved; it wasn't fair.
Are you going to get upset, bad mouth the company, slack off, or are you going to keep being your best, going the extra mile, knowing that God has something better coming?
These times when we're uncomfortable, we're not getting our way, those are opportunities to prove to God that you're ready to go to the next level. Before you're promoted, there's a time of testing, a time of proving.
If you keep letting the same people offend you, the same traffic upset you, the same challenges steal your joy, then you're going to get stuck. You're going through it, try a better approach, grow through it.
“God, I don't like this, it's uncomfortable, but I trust you. I know you wouldn't have allowed it if I didn't need it. So, I'm going to pass this test.
I'm not going to get frustrated every time I don't get my way; I'm not going to be sour because things aren't changing on my timetable. God, I know you're working all things for my good.”
That's how you grow, that's how you come out stronger, more confident, more loving, more forgiving.
Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of the Lakewood Church congregation in Houston, Texas, which is one of the largest churches in the United States; according to Forbes and Outreach magazine, with 60,000 members.
