Jesus Will Carry Us - Allison Bottke at Crystal Cathedral 3/4/12

Many of us struggle to set healthy boundaries and find SANITY in the challenging relationships in our lives, myself included. There are times when it seems that no matter how hard we try nothing works. Lately, I’ve been getting a great deal of email from desperate readers who have reached the end of the rope and are hanging on for dear life. Believe me, I can relate. I’ve been dealing with a seriously challenging business relationship for several years—a relationship that has devastated me on many levels; personally, professionally, physically, emotionally, and financially. The consequences of setting boundaries can be painful, and unfortunately some difficult people and situations in our lives can seem relentless.

But as I’ve said repeatedly in every book in the Setting Boundaries series, the actions of other people should not dictate our responses to them. As Christians, we are called to a higher level of response and accountability. It isn’t easy to respond in a Christ-like manner when someone hurts you, trust me, I know.  Frankly, I’m ashamed and embarrassed at some of my behavior in the past—especially the times when I responded emotionally and not rationally to the people God placed in my life.

Although I may not know your specific situation or circumstances, I do know that God has a plan for our lives. There is a reason for every trial and tribulation we experience, for every difficult person who crosses our path and for every obstacle that makes life hell on earth… and our focus needs to be on understanding what that reason is as it pertains to our walk with the Lord.

What does God want us to learn? How does He want us to respond? What is God’s will?

I’m reading Max Lucado’s devotional, Grace for the Moment – Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year, and today’s message is titled; God’s Will…Be Done. Max writes, “God is not the God of confusion, and wherever he sees sincere seekers with confused hearts, you can bet your sweet December that He will do whatever it takes to help them see His will.”

“May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

I’ve been crying out to God for a long time, praying fervently to know His plan for my life and ministry, to have clear discernment for every step I take. But there are times when the weight of the battle to survive becomes too great to bear, times when I think it would be better to drown, rather than navigate the deep and treacherous waters of adversity one more day.

Yet it’s during those times I have come to understand what it really means to be a follower of Christ. What it means to have Jesus carry me on His shoulders when I can’t take another step.

Yesterday, I was introduced to a book by Os Hillman called; The Upside of Adversity: Rising from the Pit to Greatness.  Last night, I fell asleep reading it on my Kindle. I’d like to invite you to read this book with me and participate in a discussion about how God uses adversity to help us fulfill our ultimate destiny.

I want to learn how to see my negative experiences as God-given opportunities to experience God in ways I never thought possible, how about you?

Until then, may God bless and keep you.

Allison