Breakthrough
Breakthrough: A word that exudes hope! It's, often, what we pray for!
Even the image that forms in my mind, at the hearing of this word, is beautiful! (Warm sunbeams breaking through dense, dark clouds... or, a welcomed victory, following a difficult and exhausting journey!)
When we, ourselves, or someone dear to us, is going through a trial; we pray, even relentlessly, for a breakthrough!
This is right!
But... consider this: HIS ways are not our ways. HE always has a "higher" purpose in our adversities! (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Sooo... What if the trial, that we are praying away, "IS" the "VERY way" that HE will use to accomplish within us:
~ To fully place our focus on HIM!
~ To draw us "near" to HIM, deeply immersing ourselves in HIS Word!
~ To receive HIS strength, wisdom and refreshment!
~ To sand off our rough edges; resulting in us looking more and more like the SON!
~ To beat down and crush our pride (The Bible says pride is ugly; actually, heinous! It is a pre-curser to our destruction!)
~ To cause another soul, (perhaps, one we have been interceding for) to get a glimpse of HIM, through "our response" to this particular trial!
~ To solidify and assure our "relationship WITH HIM"!
Just, what "IF" we could see with HIS eyes, what the other side of our current trials would bring?
Sometimes... we "get to" see, in hindsight, all that HE accomplished! And, when we do; most of us would be willing to go through it, all over again!
As our enemy knows his time is coming, to begin his eternal death; he is working in overdrive, to destroy and undermine the institution of marriage... especially among Believers!
What if we changed our focus, when troubles arise within our relationships?
What if we took our focus OFF our trials... and OFF ourselves... OFF our rights... OFF what the world constantly tells us we 'deserve'.
And we placed our focus ON HIM?
What if... when our spouse is human and exhausted, and not their best self, we lay down our own pride... and, instead, lean into the Spirit... and extend grace?
HIS ways are not our ways!
HE is Master at taking what satan meant for evil and turning it around, for HIS purposes and HIS glory!
In the dailyness of life, I can so easily forget that my 'real' battle is in the spiritual world; It's "not" with my spouse! When I give in to my feelings and allow myself to be hurt and brood over it, instead of extending grace... the evil one and his demons claim victory and they cheer.
What "IF" we prayed for our focus to be ON HIM... that we would desire "more" to be desperate "for HIM", no matter our circumstance?
What "IF" the difficulty we are asking for HIM to take away is EXACTLY what HE will use to bring about that breakthrough we so deeply desire?
What "IF"?
[Disclaimer: This pondering and challenge, in NO way, is condoning abuse of any kind! God is NOT glorified when HIS children suffer abuse! If you are being abused, GET HELP! The 'suffering servant' is not about enduring abuse, from someone that does not possess the fruits of the Spirit.]