Be God's Character Witness

When bad things happen to good people, it tends to generate frustration and sadness. Anger tells us to fight back to regain control. While it’s acceptable to be angry, it’s necessary to keep it in check to prevent overreacting.

 

While Joseph was far from being perfect, he didn't deserve being taken to Egypt and sold as slave. He had choices regarding how he would react. He responded by taking advantage of opportunities to prove he was a responsible person regardless of his situation.

When Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, was sent to a Nazi concentration camp, he knew survival depended on finding meaning and purpose in this death camp. He did survive while the rest of his family perished. After the war he published The Diary of Anne Frank, which become a classic book and movie. When your heart and mind are set on doing your best even in the worst possible situation, God provides the will and strength for you to be a character witness to his grace and mercy.  

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Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful that the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your hearts and your minds quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 4:6-7 The Living Bible

Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 2

Endurance is, in truth, a test of values, especially where competing values cause conflict. A book called Values and Teaching, identifies most people as believing in prolonging life. However, place that ideal in a situation where someone is suffering from unbearable pain, caused by an incurable disease, and wishes to die…

Thank God most of us do not face that choice, but other situations where values collide make choosing unpleasant. You appreciate rules for driving safely, and although you need to be on time for work, you're late. You cherish being a patient, kind person, but someone is using you to their advantage. Your integrity depends on choosing your actions wisely.

A man explained he had a chance to reconcile with his ex-wife. He wanted to do right by his family and please God, but lack of trust blocked the pathway. God’s word teaches you to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, and he will guide your path." This is God’s choice for all believers.