There are scriptures that may get you on the bad side of people when they don’t follow your train of thought. For me personally, this one has not been well received at times,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Another scripture that I don’t quote often enough but relates in the same way is,
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Today’s devotional reading from my Tecarta Bible app, https://tbibl.es/9W1l brought the one from James and then Romans to mind after reading it. It’s title is a good “Phrase Pun.” Are we sometimes more stubborn than a donkey before we realize life’s lessons can be helpful?
Shake It Off!
One spring day, Farmer Green’s donkey fell into a well. The animal brayed loudly as Mr. Green tried to figure out a solution. He finally decided that since the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to rescue the donkey.
He recruited his neighbors to help, and together they all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. At first the donkey realized what was happening and wailed louder. After several minutes, however, he quieted down. The neighbors were amazed at how calm the animal had become.
Farmer Green finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey’s back, the animal did something incredible. He shook the dirt off and took a step up.
As Farmer Green’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, the donkey continued to shake it off and step up. It wasn’t long until the donkey was able to step up over the edge of the well and simply trot off!
We can’t go through life without having some dirt tossed on us. Every single one of us will experience trials and loneliness. When life tosses dirt in your path, you have a choice: Let it bury you alive, or shake it off and step forward. Try to view your problems as stepping stones. If you so choose, you can actually learn from your trials.
In The Word 