When life gives us lemons, we make lemon curd! However, if we experience lemons in life, we need to correctly discern whether it is not as a harvest of something that we, ourselves, have sown. It could also be caused by the immaturity of another person, or the devil. Jesus said that we would experience trouble in this world, but the power of that trouble has potentially been broken, because He has given us the power to overcome. Jesus did not deny the reality of a situation but broke the finality thereof. When life dishes up lemons, our response should not be to think that God does not love us and has forgotten or forsaken us. We must be objective, focused, and be aware that adversity is evidence of the fact that God is committed to our personal growth. This will enable us to rejoice in our trials. It also means that more often than not, adversity is our friend, and not our enemy. Our response should be to entrust ourselves completely to God, foregoing our own plans and justification. In these times we must be careful not to treat everyone around us with a bad attitude, whipping the innocent with the guilty, and to not minister the battle, but the Spirit. Growth begins when we stop blaming others and start learning for ourselves. We are all in the process of God refining us towards our purpose and He is using life’s lemons. God’s principles and purposes are more effective and powerful than evil ones and that is why they will never fail. Adversity is turned into advantage by maintaining perspective on God’s heart and purposes for you. Turning adversity into advantage always starts with forgiveness (this is not equal to trust), which is a redemptive faith-decision that changes your heart and brings God into your situation. Let him be the judge. Correct response will bring a changed perspective, resulting in inner healing. The broken trust can be rebuilt with time, truth, and healthy boundaries without resentment. Character tested by fire brings forth freedom and fruitfulness. God allows adversities to mature our faith, refine our motives, reveal our dependence upon him, re-direct our paths and then He starts to manifest his glory in us.
