Recently, a neighbour told how he had noticed something seemed odd   with his car but he didn’t pay any attention to the fact that it was hard to   crank. Instead, he thought, “Maybe it is the type of gas that I am using.”   Then on a trip to the grocery store, it stopped and it would not crank at   all. After having it towed to his mechanic, he lamented that he should have   known something was wrong. A week later while parked in a place that was open   and had a lot of foot traffic, his spare tire was stolen from beneath his   SUV, and he began to wonder what was going on with his life.

Was God trying to get his attention? Had he done   something wrong? Maybe, he forgot to tithe, or could it be that God was on   the verge of blessing Him? Many times, when things go wrong or difficulties   come, instead of seeing our distress as a blessing, we view it as trouble and   become angry. In doing this we run the risk of missing what God has for us to   learn.

Instead of taking time to pray and seek Him about the matter, we run   to others in an effort to validate our feelings or solve the situation. While   God wants us to be actively involved in the work He is doing in our lives, He   also wants us to learn how to trust Him completely. Just because something   bad happens does not mean we have done something wrong. Maybe, God simple   wants to teach us how to listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Just as there is a season set aside for blessing, there will be times   when we face challenges. We may love the days the sun is shining on our   lives, but it is in the hard times, that we grow stronger in our faith and   more focused on the Lord and His will for us.

Does it feel as though you have pulled up beside the waters of   Marah—waters that are bitter and fearful? If so, refuse to grumble or speak a   word of anger and regret. Learn from Israel’s mistakes and recall the   goodness of your God and He will provide enough sweet water to satisfy your   thirsty soul.

Scripture: “Moses cried out   to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters,   and the waters became sweet” (Exodus 15:25).