What Chapter Are You On

"I have refined you, but as silver is refined. Rather I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. Isaiah 48:10 NLT

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Over the last few years I have listened to many people tell their stories of the tremendous storms that they have been in. Many people have been in these storms for two and three years, which has been at times unbearable and they have wanted to throw in the towel, but somehow, God would give them another boost of energy to keep going because they knew God had brought them this far, they didn't really want to give up.

Just the other night I had talked with a young man, who was sharing with me what he was going through in his new relationship. He shared that he knew God had brought him and this young lady together, and already just a few months into the relationship, he was telling me that he felt that her feeling were changing, he didn't think she felt the same way towards him, he felt that she was pulling back. This young man continued to say that he felt that God had put this girl in his life and was saying, "Here she is, but you can't have her." As we continued to share back and forth, I had asked him if he was going to just give up so soon, knowing that God had put them together. Then I shared with him that many people are going through storms just like his and they have been in it for years, as I let him know, that for these other people, it has been hard for them too but they hadn't given up. He agreed with me, as I prayed with him about his situation, he hung up realizing that this was a test for him to put his faith in God, to get into God's word more in order to grow stronger so that he can stand the tests of life and come through his storm victoriously.

Girlfriends, if you have ever read a book and the first chapter starts out maybe between the middle to the end of the story, and then the next chapter would take you right back to the very beginning of the story, so you could see how it all unfolded to get to the place where they had started the story at, it's kind of the same with our lives as well. We don't know how long it's going to take to get through something that we are going through, we don't know all the things that are going to happen in between. We do know that it is by our choices we make, as we stand on God's word, His promises, He will take us through our storm, take us through the fire, and we will come out in a way that will make us stronger, so that we can be an encouragement to other people who are going through similar situations.

There are people all around us that know us and only know some of our story of the things we have been through, they don't know all of the "behind scenes," that has led us to be who we are today. I have a quote stuck on my fridge that says, "I love when people that have been through hell, walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire." Isn't that so true when you think about it, or how about the people that are still in the fire, continue to help, encourage and pray for others that are in a fire as well.

Girlfriends, that is what it is all about, being there for one another. We are to encourage and pray for one another, because each of us may be in a different chapter of our life, we have been through many different fires, so we know that what God has brought us through before, He will do it again, and again. Each fire that we come through, we are being refined a little bit more each time, to fulfill God's purpose in us and for us to be used for His glory as we one day tell our story. Just remember God is not finished writing your story, and He is with you every step of the way through each chapter of your life. God was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel 23-30, so the same God is with you in your fire. They came out without even smelling of smoke and so will you. Girlfriends, you've got this!!!

Let's Pray,

Father God, I thank you for each precious soul represented here today who is reading this. Lord, I lift up each one who is in a storm right now, Lord I pray a peace over their minds, and a supernatural strength of endurance, that they will not give up, that they will fight and hold on to the end. Lord help each one of us to remember 2 Peter 3:8, as it says that with you Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Lord we thank you right now in the mighty name of Jesus for the supernatural endurance that are giving each one of us, that will bring us out of the fire, and we too will come out of it not smelling like smoke. I thank you Lord in Jesus name, Amen.

Be a blessing to those around you, for you are blessed.