“But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” ~JOHN 12:23-26

Our lives and the path we take when directed by Christ are always for a purpose. What we at times see as broken moments marred by death and loss, are oftentimes climax moments that Christ calls seed and harvest.

When our Savior came to His time to be brutally beaten and then die on the cross for the world, He knew that out of His agony and death would come a harvest of a great many souls into eternal life (I COR. 15:20-21).

Out of the One comes many, the first fruits of many brethren but He had to suffer much.

Like Christ, many of our lives’ roads are built up of windings, ups and downs, brokenness, detours and off-road ditch experiences, but Christ uses that to construct a glory and a character in you that is invaluable.

Does He send all of the trouble? No, of course not! But He certainly recycles it for our good, giving us much beauty for our ashes (ISAIAH 61:3).

The Word says that Joseph (Psalm 105:16-25) experienced much trouble but it was used to create a character in him, to test, prepare, and prove him for elevation the Lord had shown him in his dreams. Furthermore, we know this proving was also used to bless and preserve all of his family for many generations.

Friends, your life, your mistakes, your broken moments, may seem like wasted years and useless scares but be encouraged and know that your Father, Savior, and Friend can use each of these circumstances to elevate you.

Our stumbling blocks can become stepping stones when we allow Christ to redeem and to use what we have walked through.

He is faithful and He is good and He has penned purpose for every season of your life!

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

–Candice Coates is an author, blogger, and contributor to Ambo TV. To read more from her, follow her blog at www.icameforthesoup.com