Turner Chapel

From Obstacles to Opportunities

In light of everything that has been happening around us lately, now is the time for us to look at things with the proper perspective. Our family and friends are losing jobs and getting evicted, even people we don’t know just lost everything.

Many of us have had our own share of tests and trials and can attest to the fact that the way you look at things will determine the outcome. And it’s after the fact that we sit there and scratch our heads and say, “What was I so stressed about anyway?” Because we know that Matthew 6:27 asks us “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” We know not to worry and we know not to stress, and we come to the conclusion that it’s simply a faith issue. Or is it really simple?

We say “Girl, just put your trust in God”. Or “Brother, just have some faith”. But truth be told, we can only see that obstacle that’s right in front of us, not even thinking about how we can get around it. But praises be to God that we can turn our obstacles into opportunities. Case in point…when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, it was her faith that gave her the strength to press her way through that crowd. She had an obstacle in her way due to her health, so she could not be amongst the others because she was labeled as “unclean”. But her faith told her that all she had to do was touch the hem of His garment and she would be made whole (Matthew 9:19-21). She took that obstacle and turned it into an opportunity.

And of course, one of the most inspiring faith testimonies in the bible was about Joseph. Now he could have gotten depressed, turned His back on God and everything else. But he stood on the promises that God made to him. Instead of sulking while in prison, he was the best prisoner around, until they put him in charge over all the prisoners (Genesis 39:22). Joseph took that obstacle of being in prison as an opportunity to show who he really was in Christ Jesus.

And the best story that has been told to date didn’t come out of the Bible, but came from a family that fled from Hurricane Katrina. Not only did this young man lose everything, but he is here with 3 girls, ages 2 months, 2 years and 3 years and the mother is yet to be found. In speaking with him, he made it clear that now is the time for him to start over. Simply not dwelling on what was lost, but looking forward to what could be gained was his modus operandi.

Though we may have lost our jobs, this is now an opportunity for us to learn a new skill or follow a passion. Though we may have gotten evicted, this is now an opportunity to spend some quiet time with the Lord. Though we may have lost a loved one, this is now an opportunity to show those that are still living how much we love them. Though we got passed over for that promotion, this is now an opportunity for us to take a self inventory. Though we may have gotten a divorce or ended a relationship, this is now an opportunity to fall in love with ourselves even more.

And though the enemy may have thought it was dealing us an obstacle, we can stand on the faith that God has dwelling within us and turn it into an opportunity.

Your Humble Servant,
The Reverend Raushanah N. Butler