Life = Good

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

Jesus said the thief is the one who comes to kill, to steal, and destroy. So by what manner of thinking do we perceive that God is the one who brings trials upon us? If we are sick, our health is being destroyed, and we are slowly being "killed" by the disease. If we are constantly in the red financially and money is scarce, than our riches are being "stolen". If our God-invested plans come to ruin, or our circumstances turn terrible, our hopes and dreams are being "destroyed". If you look at things objectively, there is no way these things are of God.

Jesus came that we might have life; and have it abundantly, pressed down, shaken together and running over. "Every good and perfect gift comes from above". Who are we to call good things evil, much less evil things good? Life is health. Abundance is prosperity. Dreams and hopes that have life are evident goodnesses in our world. These things are what truly comes from God.

Jesus didn't say life would be all a bed of roses. He said trouble would come, and this is because the devil is in it, seeking to kill, steal, and destroy us. However He told us not to fear - for He overcame it that we might also. In Him, we can overcome all that the devil throws our way. Psalms says "though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death", not camp in the valley. Though sorrow may last for a night, joy comes with the morning.

If you are in the valley right now, don't set up camp. Press onwards to what God has promised for you, and lay hold of those promises. For through Him, you can overcome *all* things.