“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” Psalm 118:17 

I cannot take someone where I haven’t been. I cannot give something that I have not received. Amy Carmichael said, “A fountain cannot rise higher than its spring.” 

My past was filled with very hard and difficult things that I had to go through. Many of these things I had nothing to do with them coming. It is just called life in a fallen world. We are going to go through hard things but He will bring us through to the other side. I wouldn’t want to stop the difficult and hard things. It all affected me in a way that challenged me to come out of myself, give it to the Lord and trust Him with the outcome. All of it made me change and grow in ways that otherwise I probably wouldn’t have. 

I do remember saying over and over again when I was going through hard times, “Lord please don’t let all this pain and suffering be for nothing.” I can tell you that nothing was wasted in my life. He has used every single thing that I have gone through. 

This is the best part of it all. I now have opportunities to help those who are going through hard things just like I did. We need each other in this life. We cannot do it alone. I wouldn’t want to bypass or ask to skip any of what God had planned for me. It ALL works for the good. It is all bringing me to that final destination of being purged, sanctified and ready for Heaven.

Even Jesus Himself prayed to the Father, “Oh My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 He knew that He was brought to earth to do what His Father had planned for Him. Can you even begin to imagine what it would be if He had not gone through with the Father’s plan?

“I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; ” Luke 22:32

Lord, I thank you for everything in my past that was so hard. I thank you Lord that You have used it to make me who I am today, whole, mature, healthy, strong and still growing in You! I thank You Lord that my past pain and hardship can now be used to bless those around me.

You do make all things work for my good!