Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

We sometimes need to understand why things happen to us. Perhaps a friend who you thought would be with you for years, someone you counted on, is no longer in your life. Or at work, things were going great. You had all this favor, but now there’s conflict, everything’s a struggle, and you don’t know what to do. There are times when God stirs things up. A friend may do you wrong, you may lose a loved one, or your business may suffer. When the situation isn’t changing, sometimes God is using the situation to change you. God uses loss, betrayal, and persecution to force us to change. He’s not just trying to make your life miserable; he’s pushing you into your purpose.

When your path is challenging, it’s because your calling is higher. In my fifteen years of ministry, I’ve learned not to underestimate God’s calling. I’ve found that the less time and effort I spend trying to do God’s job, the easier it is to do what He has called me to do. When we’re comfortable and everything is going well, we resist and often fear change, but God uses these situations to stretch and grow us.

Every difficulty you’ve experienced, every setback, every person who did you wrong—none of it was meant to stop you. It was meant to push you, to help you mature, and to make you stronger. Every experience we go through deposits something on the inside, shaping us into who we are today.

When you face difficulties, especially things you don’t understand, try to have a new perspective instead of being critical or negative. Tell yourself, “This is not meant to stop me but to promote me. I may be uncomfortable and not like it, but I know God is using it to push me to a new level, greater influence, and into my purpose.” Looking back, I recognize the key moments I experienced significant personal growth. It was during times when I was pushed out of my comfort zone and forced to take a leap of faith.

In Scripture, the prophet Samuel spent years mentoring King Saul and loving him like his own son. Unfortunately, Saul didn’t do what was right, so God told Samuel he was going to take the throne away from Saul. Samuel was heartbroken and felt like he had wasted his time. God then told Samuel to stop mourning over what He had rejected. God was saying, “Stop being depressed over someone who walked away. Stop being bitter over what didn’t work out. If they were meant to stay, they would have stayed.”

God then told Samuel, “I have found a new man named David. Go and anoint him as the next king.” The principle here is that if you stop feeling discouraged over the people who have left, God will send the right people into your life. Instead of complaining about what didn’t work out or saying, “If they hadn’t left me,” move forward. When you accept it and move on, you’ll reach a new level, and the right people will appear.

It’s important to understand that God doesn’t send trouble but He will use difficulty to push us into our destiny. Job experienced a lot of hardships. He lost his business, his health, and his family. If the story stopped there, it would be a sad ending. But Job understood this principle. During the difficulties, he looked up and said, “I know my Redeemer lives.” He was saying, “I know God is still on the throne. He has the final say. This trouble is not going to defeat me; it’s going to promote me.” In the end, Job came out with twice what he had before. God used that adversity to give him double.

Every time I’ve seen significant growth or stepped up to a new level, I was pushed by adversity. Perhaps you are facing a challenging situation right now. You might feel disheartened after losing a loved one or experiencing a failure or a breakup. It may seem like the challenges were meant to harm you, but God will turn them around for your good. God didn’t let these challenges stop you; He allowed them to propel you forward. Just like Job, you will emerge from this situation stronger, healthier, wiser, and in a better position than before.

The more challenging the situation, the closer you are to a new beginning. The tough times will lead you to greater fulfillment. Even that betrayal you faced will move you into better relationships and new happiness. That sickness you’re experiencing will push you into your purpose. Your pain is a sign that you’re about to experience something new.

The betrayal wasn’t sent to stop you; it was allowed to push you. Don’t complain about who hurt you or who did you wrong. God would never have permitted it if that would keep you from your destiny. Shake off the self-pity and prepare for the new doors that are about to open, the new opportunities, the new skills, and the new talents. As Moses said, “As an eagle stirs up her nest, so God will stir up His children.”

When things are stirring in your life, when you’re uncomfortable, when a door closes, or when a friend betrays you, don’t think, “Oh great, just my luck; I always have these bad breaks.” Instead, turn it around. Say, “God, I know you’re stirring things because you’re about to open a new door. You’re about to take me to a higher level. You’re about to push me into my purpose.”

Judas thought that by betraying Jesus, he was putting an end to His influence. In reality, he was helping to fulfill God’s plan. When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, Scripture says Philip traveled to Samaria. Philip didn’t choose to go to Samaria; the persecution forced him to leave his hometown. This pushed him out of his comfort zone and into his destiny.

I find this so interesting. God could have stopped the opposition. He closed the mouths of hungry lions for Daniel. He made Daniel’s friends fireproof. But the persecution in Jerusalem was for a purpose. He allowed that opposition to get Phillip into his destiny. It was in Samaria that Phillip saw his greatest days of ministry. He wouldn’t have reached his highest potential if he had stayed in Jerusalem. God wouldn’t be guiding you somewhere else if there weren’t another opportunity waiting for you.

In the scripture, God told Paul that he would stand before Caesar, and Paul was on a boat headed toward Rome. However, they encountered a massive storm, and the winds were so strong that they blew the ship aground. Their boat fell apart, and they all had to swim to a little island called Malta. It looked like a bad break, a disappointment. But that storm didn’t stop God’s plan; it was a part of God’s plan.

On that island, the chief’s father was very sick. Paul prayed for him, and God healed him. Then they started bringing other ill people, and the same thing happened: God healed them, too. Paul ended up sharing his faith with the whole island. God will use the winds meant to stop you to push you into your destiny. You may not like it or understand it, but if you stay in faith, it won’t defeat you; it will promote you. You are facing challenges for a reason. We must be willing to go through the process. When things get tough and you feel uncomfortable, that’s a sign that you are on the brink of a new beginning. The past has served its purpose; now it’s time for new growth.

Every difficulty you went through, every storm, every person who did you wrong, was pushing you to grow, to know God better, to become stronger and more resilient. Now, don’t be discouraged by the process. Maybe you feel like you’re being pushed right now. It’s tight, it’s uncomfortable, but you need to get ready. He will push you into greater strength, influence, and resources. You’re entering a new season of health, favor, victory, and breakthroughs. The winds meant to stop you will push you into your purpose. I hope that speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!