Pastor Ray's Daily Devotionals
Age And Experience Can Help With Adversity | July 25, 2023
By Pastor Ray Parascando
I recently saw a picture on social media of a roller-coaster descending a steep drop. People in the cars were screaming and holding the safety bars tightly, except one man! He was calmly looking forward as if he were riding a merry-go-round. The picture caption said, "Jet fighter pilot on vacation."
Air Force fighter pilots have a physical, draining job. Their bodies are under constant strain because they face up to nine times the force of gravity. They have to crane their neck to keep watch on their enemy. Often, to maintain a tactical advantage, their ligaments strain, neck joints are pressured, and their internal organs are jostled in flight. It has been reported that a jet fighter feels like they were in a car accident after landing. Of course, this is secondary to the pilot's mental and emotional stress if the jet is in combat! The experiences in battle would make any roller-coaster seem like a carousel to a jet fighter pilot.
We stand to learn a lot from our experiences, especially the ones that involve trouble. Like that jet fighter, you may have been in some problematic situations. Maybe you were being fired on by your foes. Perhaps there was some turbulence or someone on your tail. Possibly the physical pain of your problem has drained you. Regardless of the backstory, you have the experience to draw upon that will help you with the roller-coaster rides of life.
Job 12:12 says, "Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding."
With age comes wisdom that can help us in tough times if we listen to God and seek His kingdom plan first. If we run from God or back to a bad habit or destructive person, we will not learn from our experiences. Instead, we may incur more damages and increase our pain. The perspective of Scripture is that we should take inventory of our troubles and try and squeeze a life lesson from the difficulty.
By God's grace and our application of His wisdom, we can press forward and rise above our adversity.
By Pastor Ray Parascando
I recently saw a picture on social media of a roller-coaster descending a steep drop. People in the cars were screaming and holding the safety bars tightly, except one man! He was calmly looking forward as if he were riding a merry-go-round. The picture caption said, "Jet fighter pilot on vacation."
Air Force fighter pilots have a physical, draining job. Their bodies are under constant strain because they face up to nine times the force of gravity. They have to crane their neck to keep watch on their enemy. Often, to maintain a tactical advantage, their ligaments strain, neck joints are pressured, and their internal organs are jostled in flight. It has been reported that a jet fighter feels like they were in a car accident after landing. Of course, this is secondary to the pilot's mental and emotional stress if the jet is in combat! The experiences in battle would make any roller-coaster seem like a carousel to a jet fighter pilot.
We stand to learn a lot from our experiences, especially the ones that involve trouble. Like that jet fighter, you may have been in some problematic situations. Maybe you were being fired on by your foes. Perhaps there was some turbulence or someone on your tail. Possibly the physical pain of your problem has drained you. Regardless of the backstory, you have the experience to draw upon that will help you with the roller-coaster rides of life.
Job 12:12 says, "Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding."
With age comes wisdom that can help us in tough times if we listen to God and seek His kingdom plan first. If we run from God or back to a bad habit or destructive person, we will not learn from our experiences. Instead, we may incur more damages and increase our pain. The perspective of Scripture is that we should take inventory of our troubles and try and squeeze a life lesson from the difficulty.
By God's grace and our application of His wisdom, we can press forward and rise above our adversity.
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Archive
2023
August
Good Decisions Require Discernment Live By God's PowerPraying For Real ComfortGetting In Rhythm With GodAvoid Self-Righteous PrayersKeep Your Promises With GodMercy Leads To HappinessAddress Any Self-Righteous AttitudesPraying With ConfidenceHow Does God See You?Turn Away From Whatever Gets You StuckStop Talking About Your ProblemsOur Prayers Reach God's EarsStress Management Starts In The MorningFollowing ChristNavigating The Darkness Of This World Measure God's PromisesLittle Light Of MineGet Your Priorities In OrderPraying Without Results Can Be ToughYou Can Overcome DoubtPray ContinuouslyRescue-Me Prayers Practice Inward KindnessTrust God's TimingSurrender My AgendaFocus On Being A River Rather Than A ReservoirGod's Gracious CoveringYou Are Never Out Of God's ReachSeek God With No Strings Attached
September
Rise Above Your AngerGod Is Fully Aware Of Your AdversityAll The Days Of My LifeBalance Rest And LaborStrive To Always Be SincereBreaking The Habit Of WorryPrayer For Students And SchoolsAn Antidote AnxietyTrust God And Leave The Results To HimDeclareSeek God For Strength Fatigue Makes You Vulnerable To Temptation Put The Work Of Waiting Into MotionTrust In God Leads To Blessing Are You Teachable?BelieveMeditate On Scripture To Manage StressThink Through Your Actions Get Back On God's PathOur Father Who Art In HeavenHallowed Be Thy NameYour Kingdom Come, Your Will Be DoneGive Us This Day Our Daily BreadForgive Us Of Our SinsLead Us Not Into TemptationDeliver Us From The Evil OneFor Yours Is The Kingdom And The Power And The Glory Forever. AmenGetting Out Of Your Mental PitYou Can Have Unshakable FaithKeep Short Accounts With God
October
God Of The Final SayStop Making Excuses And Start Making Adjustments God Acts On Behalf Of Those Who Wait On HimWaiting On God For DirectionGod's Perfect FaithfulnessWaiting Can Wear You OutGod's Refuge Is Your UmbrellaGod's Cover 4 DefenseRemove Negative Labels Live By God's PowerPraying For IsraelDiscouragement Is CurableGarbage In, Garbage Out Seeking God's BlessingMake Sundays Sacred We See A Battle, The Lord Sees Our Victory Refuse To Throw In The Towel God's Timing Is Trustworthy Be Miracle-MindedShake Off Negativity Keep Doing What Is RightMaintain An Active Church MembershipBe An Anyway Type Of PersonDetest Evil, Cling To Good Encouragement is oxygen for the mind.Kindness Will Reward YouCombine Prayer And ActionOvercoming Evil With Good Decisions
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