“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” Jn 16:33, AMP
Now, before we dive deep into hope, let me debunk a few myths. The opinion exists that a relationship with Christ paired with an unshakable faith will ensure a life that is prosperous, enlightened, and free from pain. Sorry… that’s not the way this works. God is not a genie to be summoned from a Bible-shaped bottle to grant every wish and move every obstacle. His primary concern is not that we are happy in every moment, but that in every moment we are growing, changing, from glory to glory, until WHAT is on the outside more clearly reflects WHO, as believers, is living on the inside. The path is narrow and unsteady, but hand-in-hand with Christ, it is not only manageable, it is joyful! If… If we learn to altar the outcome.
No, I didn’t misspell that (spelling police, I’m talking to you!). I meant that exactly the way that I wrote it. Too often, we make every effort, in and of ourselves, to “alter” the outcome, and often times, we only make the mess surrounding us worse. But when we “altar” the outcome, suddenly we can see beyond our circumstance and often catch a glimpse of the direction that God is moving; however, to do that, we have to remember the altar. Let me explain.
The storms are coming, and just because we pray for God to calm the storm, it doesn’t mean that he will. See, sometimes the lesson is IN the storm. Sometimes growth happens in the pit, dreams are born in the furnace, and identity is revealed while facing the giants in our life. What we cannot, MUST NOT, lose sight of is the power of the altar: the strength that comes from that place in our lives of worship and reverence and praise. When we are willing to bring our weakness to God and admit, “I’m hurting. I don’t understand it. I can’t see it. But if you’ll go with me, I will walk through it,” then we open the door for God to do incredible things in our lives. When we recognize that the end goal is a stronger faith, a closer walk, and a deeper relationship with him, then the struggle becomes an incredible opportunity to change our lives for the better.
Try it. The next time you’re faced with a difficult situation, the next time that life seems unbearable, and you’re trapped inside the vicious cycle of life, don’t try to “alter” the outcome – “altar” the outcome. Pray, praise, and walk your way through, and watch what God will do, always and only for your good!