If I were a weapons inventor, I would create the ultimate weapon. Here’s how it would work.

The enemy launches a huge missile. Someone shouts, “Incoming!” and everyone jumps into a hole or looks for something to hide behind.

Not to worry, though. My trusty invention fires a cloud of happy dust into the air and when the missile flies though, its payload changes from explosives into good stuff. Red, green, blue and yellow flowers float towards the earth, along with oatmeal cookies.

The only thing is, I haven’t figured out how to do it. I’ll keep you updated.

God’s Weapon

God can do it, though. Missiles may still hurt when they explode (an oatmeal cookie would hurt if it fell on your noggin), but instead of destroying us they work for our good if we face them with faith in the Lord.

There were a couple of things that really troubled me when I was a kid, then a teenager. If I could have changed them I would have done it in the blink of an eye. It stills hurts a bit when I think of it, all these years afterwards.

But, in a way these circumstances help to make me. This is especially so since I’ve had more experience with the Lord. I’ve been able to process what I lived though and grow from it. It doesn’t destroy me anymore and I’ve gotten stronger as I meditated and spoke seriously with the Lord about it.

I’ve been able to put these things in their proper place in my life. Before that, they kept me limping. Paul had an experience like that and he prayed three times that God would take it away. He got an answer each time he prayed— “Nope! My grace is enough for you.”

In my own life, when I was able to put the “missile” that should have messed up my life in context, I began to trust God and He changed the curse into a blessing. It’s like Balaam prophesied over God’s people, “How can the blessed by cursed?”

Would I change those hurts if I could? Maybe. I’m still human. I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t struggled through some of those things. I learned to trust God to use them for my good. I don’t mean that as if I’m something great. It’s just that I’m not sure who I would be without those experiences.

I know that experiences gave me compassion for others who hurt, especially children and young people. I was there. I understand. I can understand their pain and perhaps share healing with them from the healing I received.

What Did I Do To Deserve This?

When troubles strike we’re tempted to say, “What did I do to deserve this?” When someone suffers a horrible sickness, we’re tempted to think, “Well, you know, they are like this or like that.” As if to say they suffer because of their faults. Maybe …

But often it’s the opposite. Maybe God trusted them to be able to handle whatever they needed to face in order to be all they must be. Look at Paul. Look at Job. Both James and Paul tell us that these tough things are working something in us.

Maybe we’re not having problems because we’re doing wrong ; maybe it’s because we’re doing right.

Is this bad thing from God? I think the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. God gives abundant life in Jesus. If we trust the Lord, when the devil shoots his missile at us, it has to pass by God’s blessing cloud. And God changes the pain to showers of blessings.

That’s the devil’s big problem. When he hurls his blasts at us, we trust. God keeps changing those hurts into blessings. He makes us into seasoned veterans, able to withstand all the devil’s bombs.

And we’re much better prepared to help younger ones defuse their bombs.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12, NKJV)

Hmmm

“If it comes easy it’s not the same.” Seth Godin