The Purpose Driven Life
By Rick Warren
No one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering, and no one gets to skate through life problem-free. Life is a series of problems.
Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves. Only in heaven is everything done perfectly the way God intends.
You will never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got. If you will give God all your distasteful, unpleasant experiences, he will blend them together for good. Much of what happens in our world is evil and bad, but God specializes in bringing good out of it.
God's purpose is greater than our problems, our pain, and even our sin.
REMEMBER THAT GOD'S PLAN IS GOOD
REJOICE AND GIVE THANKS
REFUSE TO GIVE UP
If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest!
Your focus will determine your feelings.
The Bible tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." How is this possible?
Notice that God tells us to give thanks "in all circumstances" not "for all circumstances."
God doesn't expect you to be thankful for evil, for sin, for suffering, or for their painful consequences in the world.
Instead, God wants you to thank him that he will use your problems to fulfill his purpose."
If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me?" Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?"
Then trust God and keep on doing what's right.
(The thoughts on this page are taken from The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren, chapter 25 )
"We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God,
who alone could save us."
2 Corinthians 1:9