Look In Three Places!
"Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep Your word."
Psalm 119: 67
A medical research study analyzed post-traumatic responses
of cancer patients, one of which was found to be “stronger faith
in God.” And one participant in the study said, “I
am a Christian,
believing that everything that God has allowed
to happen in my
life has a purpose.
"Since I was diagnosed with cancer, I was at first very confused
and sad as to why it should happen to me. But I can only do
what I can control and surrender the rest to God."
"Since then I really experience the real meaning of knowing
how much He loves me and makes me worthy in His eyes
(Ephesians 3:17-19).”
There are only three places to look in life: inward, outward,
and upward. And trials can help us (cause us) to look
in all
three directions. Looking inward, we can check our response
to the trial. Looking outward, we can see how our response
is impacting others.
And looking upward, we can renew our faith in the One who
causes all things to work together for good for those who love
Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
If you are going through a trial or test, look in all three
directions. What you discover may become a blessing,
or possibly a correction, you hadn’t anticipated.
"Temptation provokes me
to look upward to God."
John Bunyan
