How Do You Know This Is Bad, It Could Be Good?

A few months ago, I thought to myself, “I never want to think about this past year again.” And now as I am coming out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I am thankful and consider this period to be the greatest most transforming time of growth in my life and for this ministry. Thank God for the difficult times and discipline to help us grow and for the difficult people in our lives that make us who we are. These people show us areas in our lives we would never deal with if they didn’t come in and push it out of us. I began 2010 with pneumonia, mid year had conditions with my heart, and finally a week before Christmas I contracted Swine Flu. It went systemic, throughout my body. With the combination of Diabetes it ate bone in my teeth, took my strength, depleted my immune system, and the infection went to my brain affecting my memory. Through this process, the Lord gave me revelation that I was walking through Psalm 23, as you read in last months Publishers Letter. It is such an important message for this day and time.

This season has been very difficult for all of us, but thank God our Shepherd won’t let us get too far away from His grip.

Through these dark times, the enemy is all around, yet God is always here protecting us.

God didn’t say He would pull us out of the wilderness in Isaiah. He said, 1He will make a path for us through the wilderness, but we still have to walk through it to grow. It’s not what we are going through, but how we are going through it.

He didn’t say He would pull us out of the desert. 2He promised to bring a river through the desert, sustaining us through the process. He may not always give us what we want, but He knows what we need to fulfill our purpose. 3He who begins a good work will complete it.

This past year has been difficult on all of us, but we are growing through the process and must keep the faith and be thankful for the process. We tend to talk more about our
woes, just like the Israelites instead of all God has done to provide for us through the process. How do you know this is bad, it could be good? Keep your eyes on God. James 1 states, count it all joy through our trials. This is our greatest season yet — for growth, building character, teaching us to persevere. Rather than trusting in our storehouse, we
must trust in our Provider. Keep your eyes on the prize, don’t listen to the lies.

We have to slow down, consider our ways, what we expose ourselves to. We need to be careful what we feed our minds, and fill our time with. It is time to be diligent in His purpose, passionate for His peace, meditating on His word day and night. This will enable us to fine-tune our spiritual ears to hear, that we may be sensitive to receive our marching orders by the Holy Spirit. Brush off the complaining and regrets as it only eats years off our lives. 4Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God. He is waiting.

Be Thankful.

Sincerely,
LuAnne Anderson
Publisher

1,2Isaiah; 43:19; 3Philippians 1:6; 4Phillippians 4:6