You wanna see a verse that you can pretty much use in every situation – especially if you're having a tough time?

 

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

See, the "in all things" part means in every situation God is working.  But working for what?  "For the good of those who love him."

 

This means that whatever situation we're in (assuming that you love God), God can turn it around for our benefit.  Any situation. 

 

So just think of anything that you are going through – big or small.  Breakups, loss of family, job situation, things at school, your car breaking down, anything.  God can work it out for your benefit. 

 

Well please define 'for our good' or 'for our benefit'. 

 

It's not like, in all things God works so that we can become richer or more secure in life.  It's not that God works so that we might be more successful at our jobs or in the eyes of others.

 

What matters to God?  What is 'money' to God? 

  2CO 5:6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight.

 

Just as we need money to buy food, shelter and clothing to physically live, we need faith to spiritually live. 

 

Faith is money to God.  That's what matters to God and therefore should matter to us.

 

I'm sure we've all had dreams of winning the lottery and thought to ourselves the good that we could accomplish with all that money.  But would having more money increase your faith at all?  If you're like most people, it would actually lower your faith since you don't have to rely on God as much. 

 

So forget the dreams of becoming rich.  It's an idol.  You want to become rich?  Then work on your faith. 

 

Well how does God increase our faith? 

 

He does it through hardships – big and small.

 

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

Did you get that?  God allows 'trials' that will help us grow our faith.  "Trials of many kinds," this can be anything. 

 

Who here is going to rely on God when times are all good?  It is in trials that we remember to rely on God.  It is in these situations that God can grow our faith (make us richer). 

According to this verse – the testing of our faith develops perseverance meaning that the more we hit hard times, the more our faith kick in automatically and we don't freak out.  The verse goes on to say when you have this perseverance, you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Meaning, you be a millionaire in the eyes of God. 

So how much do you freak out in hard times, or even just situations that comes up in everyday life?  Do you find yourself stressed out?  Getting upset or depressed a lot?  Getting angry with others? 

 

Pretty much anytime that you are agitated in some way you're not thinking, "Ooh, God is trying to grow my faith somehow." You're missing out and you're going through the hard times for nothing.  It'd be like working at your job and not getting paid.  We need to 'see' these trials as opportunities, cause that's how God sees them. 

 

We end up missing out cause we'd rather freak out, or get upset.

 

So try it with some small things at first and see how you do.  If you get in line at a fast food place and your line is going slow, say to yourself, "God can grow patience in me right now and I'm gonna do it."  If another driver cuts you off, say the same thing.  Try it when other junk happens like losing your car keys or stepping in poop. 

 

Of course, you'll need to do it in larger situations too.  That's actually when you can grow the most. 

 

So what's the bottom line? 

 

Be happy when you go through trials, cause God is trying to make you richer.