Opposition’s Opportunity - Encouragement for Today - April 4, 2016

April 4, 2016 Opposition’s Opportunity  NICKI KOZIARZ

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” Ruth 4:13 (AMP)

A few weeks ago, I wanted to do something nice for a few friends. I spent a lot of time thinking through what to put in a care package for each of them. As I was loading the packages into the car to mail them, I was giddy. I couldn’t wait to celebrate my friends.

And all was well in my little celebration world … until I arrived at the post office.

I was so pleased to see the place completely empty, because I thought I would be in and out quickly. I walked in, set my many packages on the counter and smiled.

But instead of a friendly smile in return, the lady at the counter rolled her eyes. She looked at the clock and said, “You do realize I close this office at 4:30?”

I looked at the clock and saw it said 3:45 p.m., glanced around the empty office and wondered what the problem was?

“I will try to help you but if someone else walks in this office, I’m going to have to put this to the side and help them. My customers are important to me,” she said sharply.

My heart began to thump a little faster because I was pretty sure I was also a customer and her only one at that point. She went on to throw out several nasty comments about the amount of things I was trying to mail and didn’t I know there were better ways to mail this many items?

After a few minutes of her aggressive words and complaints about my mailing order, I was fed up. I picked up my boxes and walked out, vowing never to step foot in that post office again.

I could have stood there and taken those rude comments, confronted her or shown her some grace-filled-kindness but something in me just wanted to run. And so I did. The next day, I went to a different post office to mail the packages. This isn’t something new for me; I’m an avoider of all things confrontational.

Some days, though, we face hard things that are much bigger than a frustrated postal worker. And ultimately we have a choice: Face the situation head-on or run.

It’s hard and a lot of days, I don’t win at this.

I think it’s why I look up to a woman in the Bible named Ruth so much. She was willing to face all kinds of opposition in order to experience God’s best for her.

God transformed her situation, taking her from being completely broken to completely blessed. Our key verse is the end result of her perseverance. A husband, a baby (who became part of the lineage to Jesus) and a redeemed life.

But the process to get there was challenging.

Ruth became a widow, moved to a foreign land, lived with a bitter mother-in-law and that’s just the beginning of what we know of her story. As I’ve studied Ruth, I saw how she never quit because she stayed with God.

With Him, she was able to face the opposition in her life directly. And that opposition became the opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed.

What if today you and I looked at our opposition as an opportunity to do something with God?

With God, hard circumstances can become the breeding ground for miracles.
With God, conflicts can become conversations of grace. 
With God, our desire to run can become a destiny-filled step.

That day at the post office, I missed it. But today is a new 24 — a new day!

Each day contains a fresh dose of God’s perseverance in me. As I walk through each hard situation today, I’m remembering who I want to become and breathing in His transforming strength.

God, I want to be a woman who doesn’t quit in the midst of opposition. Help me remember You always have the opportunity to do something through me if I’ll stick it out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 6:10, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (NIV)

Romans 5:3-4, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (NLT)

RELATED RESOURCES:
If you’re tired of quitting before you reach your goals, we understand! And we invite you to join us for a free Online Bible Study of Nicki Koziarz’s new book 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit. The study starts April 18. Click here to register.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
When was a time you tried to finish something but looking back now, you see how discouragement kept you from completing it?

If you’re prone to quit, spend time in prayer today asking God to help you persevere. Meditate on the verses above when you feel the desire to quit.

© 2016 by Nicki Koziarz. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org