Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

In what area or areas do you need a breakthrough?  Where have you been hurting or struggling lately?  Or even for a while? You've prayed. You've waited on the Lord. You are trusting Him as best you can. But you've been through the wringer and it has taken its toll. You are in a vulnerable position, but it's not over! Did you know that God can give you a breakthrough right here and now while you are still in your dificult season?  He doesn't always change our circumstances (though He easily could) in order to bless us with breakthrough. I have found that He comes to me, heals my heart, reveals a needed Scripture to me, right here and now - in the midst of my struggle, pain, and heartache.  What a God! Then I thought of the riches we are privy to through the trials and sufferings of others in the words they left behind.  One thing is for sure, the following people had no idea while they were going through their trial  that God would use them in huge ways much later .

As I prayed on my knees the other day out of sense of longing to feel more of God's love, He spoke to my heart, "Make peace with your past." I wasn't sure what that had to do with me feeling His love for me, but I trust that He always knows what I need and what I need to do. How could making peace with my past help me feel God's personal love for me? Then it dawned on me.  I still had resentment in my heart about certain things that He allowed to happen to me.  Traumatic stuff.  Painful stuff.  Stuff that I have let form me instead of letting His love form me. But the worst of it is when I let the enemy darken my memories that were good ones!  Memories of how I obeyed God.  Like all of the times that I chose to obey Him when it didn't make sense.  But then, the enemy twists it and I remember some of the aftermath. It's not a new thing.  Throughout the Bible we see God's people obeying God, stepping out in faith, and then reaping all kinds of bad stuff