So, my husband and I’s youngest son recently had a football game, and our son didn’t do so well. He was off his game. He’d dropped two out of the three passes he was thrown, and he really needed to catch those passes; for several reasons that I won’t bore you with it. I knew from the stands, looking at him standing on the field on the sidelines, that he was upset. Since the dropped passes, he hadn’t moved from the spot where he was standing for the rest of the game. He was deep in his feelings.
His team went on to win the game and advance to the regional semifinals. Yay!!! According to our practice, we and the other supporters who came out to cheer him on waited for him at our usual spot after the game. He’s normally one who has no sense of urgency after the post-game huddle, so we usually see him about 10 to 15 minutes after the coach releases them. So as usual, we stand around and chat with each other while we wait for him to come over.
Ten minutes passed. Waiting. Fifteen minutes passed. Still waiting. The field began to thin out, and now we’re searching for his jersey number. Don’t see him. He’d left for the locker room and didn’t show up to greet his supporters. How disappointing…We wait for him to change so we can load up and head home. He comes out to the car and is met with greetings from his family, and he says nothing.
Houston… we have a problem!
My husband goes on to address the situation with our son. And I go on to get ready for bed thinking about what transpired. I couldn’t help but think about the opportunities that adversity presents for our development. And I thought about you.
How do you show up when situations don’t work out quite how you’d hope? How do you show up or respond when God doesn’t come through for you like you asked? You prayed, believed, and did all the things you thought were needed and you still came up short in your situation. How do you respond to that?
Do you take your anger or frustration out on those around you? Does doubt set in and you begin to feel like God doesn’t care about you and what you’re going through? Do you lose hope and become angry at God for not coming through when you wanted, or how you wanted him to? Because you really needed Him to help you! You really needed Him to come through this time! Or do you continue through adversity, strive to overcome it, and trust God’s ability to cause all things to work out for your good?
When I got up the following morning with the situation still fresh on my mind, I heard in my spirit, “If you do well, it will be well.” Now “IF” makes that promise a conditional promise. Meaning that it can also be said “If you do not do well, it will not be well.”
I had to remind our son of this truth so that he doesn’t lose focus on what really matters. Adversity is necessary to build character. It also presents an opportunity to deepen our roots in Christ, increase our faith, and strengthen our relationship and trust in God.
If you do well, it will be well. That’s to say if you continue to live in obedience to God’s Word, will, purpose, and plan for your life, it will be well with you.
If you will continue to walk by faith and not by sight, it will be well with you.
If you will continue to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him, it will be well with you.
I’m challenging you to resist Satan’s temptations to pull you away and to cause you to doubt and be discouraged. Remember he’s seeking every opportunity to devour you. He does not have your best interest at heart – GOD DOES. Have faith in God!
For He is able to do exceeding, abundantly, and above all that you can ask or think. Now that’s an amazing God! And He loves you! So be encouraged! When life be life’n – keep looking to God. Allow Him to shape you, mold you, and transform you into a vessel that He can use for the upbuilding of His kingdom.
And when life gets hard, always remember that God chose you first. He knew you and loved you before you were even formed in your mother’s womb. He has a wonderful plan for your life that He wants you to say YES to, and then trust Him to bring it to pass in your life. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!
And remember, if you do well, it will be well!