Some hard times

So....I was thinking about something, as I often do. When we are depressed about hardships in our life...do we ever stop to think about other reasons why they are happening, besides being "punished?" See, I think this is our automatic reaction. Not only can our relationship with God be strengthened in these times, because we have to rely on Him and not ourselves anymore, but we're able to reach people we wouldn't normally have been able to get to, because of our situation. Whether it's being able to relate with others about some hard time, or just going through a rough patch and having others with the same problem there with you. We take "opportunities" as "punishment" a lot. Someone gets put in prison for something they didn't do, they can take it as a punishment, or a chance to REACH the people there where they are. Maybe it's God putting them in a place they can make a difference.

Most of this is coming from thoughts regarding a friend I'm writing in prison. He was so very depressed for awhile about being there, when he really didn't do anything "wrong." I told him that God can use anything that happens in our lives to glorify Him, to bring others to Him.

I actually have a prayer request that goes along with this, too. He wanted to read a lot of things, so I printed out some of my blog posts I wrote having to do with sermons and spiritual thoughts I've had. I sent them to him, and he read them to his "bible study group" and some of them wanted to borrow them. I'd never thought much about my writing, simply because it all comes so easily for me to write, I didn't think it was that big of an impact thing to others who've read it. Anyways, this past letter I received, he said he'd passed the pages around all over the place, and I've been getting "amazing reviews and comments back from the people who read them." (his words) He wanted to know if it would be ok for him to submit my blog print outs to the prison paper...and said it would reach 10-15 thousand prisoners. I was just in complete shock. So, if you will, pray God will use anything I can do to reach some of these people. I couldn't do anything without God's help and guidance, just pray this small thing I do will reach many people for the Lord.

I pray everyone is having a fantastic New Year...'tis another year to work for God, don't waste it. :)

God bless,
~ Jessie ~