God Made Us Victors

Today’s message was written by my friend Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

I remember an old story about a family that had twin boys. One son grew up and became an alcoholic. When someone asked him why, he said, “Because of my father.” The other son grew up and became a minister, and he dedicated his ministry to working with and helping alcoholics. When someone asked him why, he said, “Because of my father.” The two sons grew up in the same environment. One was trapped, shackled, paralyzed, and pulled down by his situation. The other turned to God and rose above it all. 

Sometimes we hear people say, “I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.” Well, a friend of Dial Hope, we don’t have to live under the circumstances. By the grace of God, we can rise above them. We don’t need to remain victims. God can make us victors. We know that with the help of God, we can rise above our circumstances. The Apostle Paul said, “l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). 

Lord, thank you for keeping us moving and growing and alive, but Lord, life can seem so complicated. We pray that in dealing with all the complexities of life, you would help us to learn the steps and the timing that will make us your effective workers and lead us each to develop his or her own choreography. 

Let us pray: Loving God, 
Help us to know when to embrace and when to let go; 
When to lean, when to stand alone; 
When to rest and when to dance; 
When to sit back and when to take a chance; 
When to follow and when to lead; 
When to doubt and when to believe; 
When to push and when to pull; 
When to take charge, when to flow; 
When to reflect and when to react; 
When to think and when to act. 
Thank you, Lord. 

Thank you, Lord, thank you so much for the gift of this day. Help us to make it a masterpiece. Now let love and hope break out like an epidemic. In Jesus’ name. Amen.