Things could be worse, thank God they aren’t!

Have you ever been in a situation where or when you don’t see anything to thank God for? Well, What if that situation got worse, what would you do? Explore today’s inspiration!

The other day I delayed to clear school tuition fees and when I presented myself with the full amount on the exam day, I was pushed away; all they wanted was a clearance card, not the money itself! Yes, I went home sadly, but I was later told that I would do ‘special’ exams in August that same year. Additionally, these exams would be counted as all other exams. That wasn’t bad, was it?

And I asked myself, what if there was no such a provision? What if my missing exams would mean repeating the whole course? Yes, I really did not like the moment, the frustration as I walked away while my fellows calmly sat for their exams. However, I later realized it was far better than I expected. Something worse had not happened! And I thank God!

There is always the worst part, thank God it doesn’t materialize!

In the book of Genesis, the worst seems to be when God chases Adam and Eve out of Eden. However, a deeper exploration of the events reveals a worst scenario that God prevented; living forever in that sinful nature! (Genesis 3:22). Read details of this Genesis inspiration here.

In the book of Job, Satan requests for permission to test Job. God grants it! However, God defines the limits; spare his life, God commanded (Job 2:6). In all that Job faced, God spared his life. And, most importantly, his eternal life. The worst thing that could have happened to Job was to deny God. And he didn’t!

Throughout the Bible, there is a unique thing about God when dealing with his people, the Israelites. God always spared a part of them. Even when they annoyed Him to the borne, He always saved some! The Psalmist says this well:

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive. When their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away. The torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:2-8

In every situation, I ask myself, what if the worst happened? When my salary delays and I am about to explode, I ask myself, what if it never came? When one person picks my mistake and shouts it out loudly in public, I ask myself, what if she or he knew all my sins.

When I am sick, I ask myself, what if I died? And when we got knocked off on a bicycle, I asked myself, what if we got brain damage? When my wife got operated and delivered a baby boy, I consoled myself, what if I had lost her or the baby or both? When thoughts of sexual desires cloud my life and make me feel remorse and lost, I ask myself, what if they actually became real?

Of course, there is pain. There is reality here. There is true and full sinning. But also there is the worst! Thinking about theft or sex with another man’s wife is already a sin. But there is the worst part it; doing it!

If you are not pleased with your wife’s nagging, yes, that is alright, but what if she was cheating on you? If you are not happy about your job, what if you did not have it at all? If your family is poor or suffering, what if they all died? If you loved one just died, what if he or she had not believed in the Lord?

What if the thief that stole my laptop also took my smart phone or the camera or my life? What if the woman that cheated on her husband also got him HIV? What if God was not with us, what would have the devil done with us? What if that girl didn’t only chuck you but also ran away with your property? What if, instead of HIV, you got diagnosed with Cancer that has no cure? It is bad you are alone now, but what if you had the devil with you?

If things got worse, what would you do about it? We thank God for His Grace!

If your current situation got worse than that? What would you do? Nothing! Totally Nothing! Therefore, thank God for the little air of relief, the small sign of grace!

One question that repeatedly comes to me is, what if things became worse, what would I do? Wouldn’t I still face it and suffer it? Wouldn’t I accept that life and move on? What if God decided not to intervene in our matters, in our sins? What if the accident you had resulted into your death? What if the operation you had didn’t end up well? What if your family wasn’t anymore? What if you died without faith?

READ THIS: Remembering these 3 attributes of God gives you Victory & Hope!

If things became worse than they are now, what would you do about it? Nothing! You would simply move on or not move on. Either way, you wouldn’t do anything about it! You would be the loser! God owes us nothing!

But somehow God and people have forgiven us. Friends have been a little kinder and helpful. God has been patient and helping us through. The planet has been a little patient, feeding and accommodating us. Considering all of it, we are left with no more to demand but give praises. The duty of every human being is to be thankful, to be grateful to nature and God for life is nothing but a gift, a free gift!

So, first, we thank God that things aren’t worst. And, secondly, we thank God that He graciously chose us. The truth is He owes us nothing! Therefore, the little that we still are or have is a gift!

Recognizing the Possibility for the Worst: Thank God

Yes, whenever I realize there was or were chances for the worst, I pause and give reverence to God. Whenever you acknowledge that worst scenarios for every situation are possible, you thank God and become humble.

You see, we like citing the imperfections and complain about what is not available, not pleasing or working out our way, but rarely do we ever consider the worst of it all!

Yes, realizing that things could be worse than they are now gives us wisdom to appreciate the little that we are, and then work even harder to be the more we desire to be. Appreciating is a prerequisite for moving forward!

Actually, when we keep up with a complaining heart that is never grateful, we do not get any better; we sulk and sink down into such negativity and eventually lose even the little we had. Negativity and too much complaining takes away the possibilities of recovery!

READ THIS TOO: You can be restored to a better life, if God wills. Try these 5 steps

Application: Be grateful, thank God always

Yes, dear brothers and sisters, I really do not know what you are going through, but one thing I know is this: everything is still under control, God’s control!

You could be sick now. Maybe you have no supper or have had no lunch. You could be having difficult people bargaining for your life. Maybe you are having troubles with your boss or people at work. Maybe you are having hard times with your spouse, children or relatives.

Are you in prison, physical, mental or spiritual? Maybe you have lost something dear to you or it has been stolen. Is someone you care about dead or sick and in pain? All of this is trouble and it brings us no happiness but pain. But there is a reason for hope; it could have been worse! And it isn’t!

In such hard times, do not think that our God is no longer caring or has lost control over the situation. The truth is this: things would even be worse if it was not for His mercy and love. Yes, our situations would be worse than they are now! Let’s thank God!

In the book of 1 Thesalonians, Paul has this advise:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Whatever is happening and or isn’t happening is God’s will. Therefore, we thank God for His will, Good will.

READ THIS TOO: The fear of COVID-19 and why you shouldn’t fear!

Trying times are not here to drown us but to uplift us. So go down on your knees like I am doing now in my heart and praise God for his protection and love. Then, show him what more you would love to have or would love to see change. Yes, God loves people who ask for more after showing gratitude for the little they have or they are. Be grateful. Thank God always.

Receiving Christ

And if you have not yet received Christ as your Lord and Savior, today is your day, say this with me:

“Oh dear Jesus, I know I have been a wanderer for so long, but today I want to find rest in you. I am a sinner and have been fighting for myself, but today I call for your forgiveness and adopting me as your child. Please, accept me and write me in the book of life. Amen”.

From now on-wards, look up to God for all your answers and comfort in life. Find a good church near you and be part of the congregation. And if you need any guidance, just email me: thecompletey@gmail.com

God Bless You