Joy of My Heart with Anne Graham Lotz - September 30

September 30

Soaring Higher

Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.

1 Peter 3:14, nkjv

Within a period of eighteen months, I went through a cluster of storms that left me emotionally gasping for breath. From Hurricane Fran, which downed 102 trees in our yard, to the fire that consumed my husband’s dental office, to my son, Jonathan’s, cancer and surgery, to my parents’ increasingly fragile health that has included multiple hospitalizations, to a home remodeling project that involved a contractor who took our money but refused to do the work, I reeled from one emergency or crisis to another.

Looking back over that eighteen-month period, my thoughtful, confident conclusion is that God allowed the storms of suffering to increase and intensify in my life because He wanted me to soar higher in my relationship with Him—to fall deeper in love with Him.

Faith that triumphantly soars is possible only when the winds of life are contrary to personal comfort.That kind of faith is God’s ultimate purpose in allowing us to encounter storms of suffering. Trust Him!

Why?

Edited following Danny’s passing:

Within a period of eighteen months, I went through a cluster of storms that left me emotionally gasping for breath. From Hurricane Fran, which downed 102 trees in our yard, to the fire that consumed my husband’s dental office, to my son, Jonathan’s, cancer and surgery, to my parents’ increasingly fragile health that included multiple hospitalizations, to a home remodeling project that involved a contractor who took our money but refused to do the work, I reeled from one emergency or crisis to another.

Looking back over that eighteen-month period, my thoughtful, confident conclusion is that God allowed the storms of suffering to increase and intensify in my life because He wanted me to soar higher in my relationship with Him—to fall deeper in love with Him.

Faith that triumphantly soars is possible only when the winds of life are contrary to personal comfort.That kind of faith is God’s ultimate purpose in allowing us to encounter storms of suffering. Trust Him!

©2012 Anne Graham Lotz. All rights reserved.


THE KEY TO A LIFE OF IMPACT

What are the secrets to a life of impact? Daniel achieved greatness in the eyes of his contemporaries, in the eyes of history, and most importantly, in the eyes of God. His faith did not waver as he faced his critics, as he served new kings in power, or even as he confronted hungry lions. How can we achieve that kind of faith today? Twenty intentional, key choices made all the difference. Daniel’s choices can be ours, such as:

•  The choice to listen
•  The choice to forgive
•  The choice to pray

Cultivate a life-changing faith when you learn to implement The Daniel Key into your everyday life. Request your copy!

For more from Anne Graham Lotz please visit AnneGrahamLotz.org.

Originally published Monday, 30 September 2024.

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