There Is A Remedy

     I was thinking today as I cleaned my daughter and the high chair from the remains of her meal how much easier it has been to take care of her than it was her sister, my first child. As with most moms, we are not sure of how to handle or react to many situations the first time we go through it. In fact, we seek advice from other seasoned moms who are familiar with the particular situations. They give words of comfort, tried and true remedies, things to avoid, and many other suggestions. The learning process is not always easy, and I don't know how I would have made it without the guidance of the others who had already experienced the same or similar situations.
     Oddly enough, this got me thinking of the question people often ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Well, my unscholarly answer would be: If bad things only happened to bad people then how would the good people be able to relate to them, advise them, and comfort them for the cause of Christ? Their only source of wisdom and advise from people who could empathize with them would be other "bad people." That's not very helpful now is it?
     We as Christians have the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the confidence of God through our Savior, Jesus Christ who came to earth and experienced many of the same things we do: ridicule, torture, betrayal, lack of appreciation, accusations, being overwhelmed, grief, pupils that don't listen, loss of loved ones, being outcast, being judged, and more. He left us many "tried and true remedies" throughout His Holy Word for every situation we could encounter.
     One of these experiences is recorded in Mark 14:36 (NKJV) where He cried these words out to His Father in reference to His coming death, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will." Jesus did not ask to suffer and die, nor did He want to, and He even asked if there was any way He could avoid it, but that was not God's plan. In all of this, and despite all of this, Jesus accepted the will of His Father. As He continued to reach out to man, even seconds before His final breath, His unfaltering testimony grasped the faith of the theif right beside Him. Jesus remedy:

                    1. Take it to God in prayer
                    2. Accept how the Father wills to work through us
                    3. Watch how God turns man's struggles into a work for His glory

     You may not have asked for your situation, but for some reason God chose to use you through that situation to bring glory to Him. These experiences are merely a resource for shining God's light for the world to see. As you use God's strength to survive your circumstance and then share your experience and "tried and true remedy" (testimony) with others, whether it is something that happened to you or that you happened to something, immerse yourself in prayer. Then God will glory in those who are accepting of it. Others' only hope of Jesus Christ lies in you. And what is even better, God gives us plenty of wonderful experiences to testify about too!

"There is a remedy, and His name is Jesus Christ!"

I Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..."