God wants to change you more than he wants to change your circumstances

​There have been many days over the last few years - over my life, really - but especially over the last few years - when I've wanted nothing more in the moment than for God to change my situation.

Steven Furtick says this about God and our situations. He says, sometimes, before God does what is obvious - which is to change our situation - he does something more hidden - which is to change you. Sometimes he wants to change YOU before he changes YOUR SITUATION so you'll be better prepared to see HIM when your situation does change.

You know, when I look back on my life, I see that I am a product of a God who has more often than not bypassed what I wanted to give me what I've needed. More often than not, God has skipped sprinkling magic dust over my circumstances to bring about obvious changes so he could have more time to change what really needed changed - ME.

There are days when I battle loneliness and hear God saying, I'm not leaving you in loneliness, I'm getting you fully prepared for togetherness.

There are days when I battle financial struggles and hear God saying, you're not stuck there, I'm just preparing you to be grateful for the prosperity I assure you is coming your way.

There are days when I feel desperately stuck in old habits and hangups that I know God could remove with a whisper - and I hear God say - then start listening to my whisper and quit shouting at your circumstances.

Oh, it's easy to feel stuck these days. When I look around and see others who appear to be breezing through life unscathed - man do I want to feel unscathed.

Dear God, can we just bypass all of this and get me to the land of the unscathed??!!!

But then I get to thinking about it. Yes, I would change my circumstances if I could. But you know what I would not change - I would not change who I am.

Because who I am - I am a man who has been built on God bypassing what I want to give me what I need. Who I am is a man sitting in less than amazing circumstances who hears a God at every turn in my life saying - amazing is on its way buddy.

Who I am is a man who knows when times get tough, God is showing up. Every time. Not to change the times, but to change me.

There are so many things in my life I need to get better at. God knows if I create the circumstances I want in my life, I'll never get better at those things. So God leaves me where HE can make me better.

I'll be honest with you. There are days I don't like my life as much as I did the day before. But every day, I love God more than I did the day before.

I suppose that's God's secret, maybe? God becomes more loveable by leaving us in a life that some days isn't so likeable.

Maybe you're like me and maybe some days are hard lately. I just encourage you - spend some time focusing on how you can be better while you wait for the circumstances to get better.

After all, God isn't living in your circumstances, he's living in you.