Thoughtful Thursday: The Path of Your Trial

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed that the cause of the accident was human stubbornness.  Each captain was aware of the other ships presence. Both could have steered clear, but neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

God has a path He wants us to meet to take in every trial, but sometimes human nature gets in the way and makes us not want to surrender or give in. However, God can only work in our lives as we surrender to Him.

We must first surrender our past (Philippians 3:13). The devil attempts to use past failures or sin to distract us from seeing God's purpose for our trials. He tries to convince us that God is punishing us or that He is upset with us and cannot use us. If you have asked God for forgiveness for those things in your past, then He doesn't remember them anymore! Don't let the devil distract you from seeing God's plan for you.

We must also surrender our present--each day we must surrender ourselves to Christ. As we do so, we can see God's purpose in our trials and draw closer to him.

Last, we must surrender our future. We must trust that God has a plan for us, that He is leaving us, and that He has a purpose for what He allows in our lives.

Have you surrendered your past, present and future to God?  He has a plan for your life, and He desires to use you. Ask God to help you be fully submitted to Him and to draw you closer to Him today. 

Used with permission from "a daily WORD" by Paul Chappell.