I made bed quickly and threw my hands toward ceiling as I walked to bedroom door.

"Lord," I declared, "I just want to thank you that I'm a child of most high God this morning! This is day Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad..."

SPLASH!

In mid-sentence, I had thrown open door to my bedroom and stepped into a pool of water covering my living room carpet.

"..and be glad in it, Lord," I finished, shaking my head.

The hot water heater had apparently gone out, and running water had been covering an entire bedroom and living room...all night long.

I would have plenty of time to rejoice in Lord as I vacuumed water and tore out carpet.

"I will bless Lord at all times," wrote David in 34th Psalm. "His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

I wonder if he wrote those words while fixing a flat tire on freeway, or picking up a treat dog left on floor in kitchen? David was human, wasn't he? Could he really expect us to maintain an attitude of praise at all times?

I wrestled with God on this one. I found myself fighting to stay "happy."

"Okay, Lord," I reasoned, "In Romans 8:28, you said that in all things you work for good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. I'm going to give you opportunity to prove yourself this morning.

"Please show me how this inconvenient, uncomfortable, potentially expensive situation is going to work out for my good."

Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on my door.

It was Jose, water heater repair guy.

"It looks like you're having a rough day," he said, taking a look at water heater connections.

"Yes," I said, trying to remain positive. "But, it's just a little water. It could be worse."

"Oh yeah, it could," Jose replied, walking out to his truck to retrieve tools.

His tone gave me impression that he had seen much, much worse. When he returned, I asked him what he meant.

You're right where your Father does his best work.

If you are a believer, word says your steps are ordered of Lord (Prov. 16:9). Every life experience, every situation you find yourself in, and every valley you walk through has a divine purpose. You are stepping closer and closer to your destiny in Christ.

Your good God doesn't bring hurtful situations into your life...that's what enemy does. However, God loves you too much to allow you to suffer through a tough time without it benefiting you in long run.

And we know that in all things God works for good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). Don't difficult times seem easier to face when you know God is using that period to stretch you, purify you, and develop your faith?

Doesn't each victory seem sweeter knowing that he is teaching you to win with greater grace, so he can bring you to next level of victory and deeper walk with him that awaits you there?

I heard a great man of God once discussing difficult situations. He said place of victory God prepares for each us is in direct proportion to valley we have to walk through getting there. He described it aptly by saying, "The bigger devil, higher your level."

In other words, more painful, disappointing, adverse or challenging you find your circumstances today, greater your victory when you emerge on other side.

The greater battle, greater anointing.

The bigger opposition, more wonderful promise.

Consider Joseph. This is a man God had chosen and given great dreams of his incredible future. However, those dreams of a victorious future preceded a whirlwind of disappointments and challenges that would have caused most of us to seriously doubt God's hand in our life.

His brothers sold him into slavery because of their jealousy. He was sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit.

In actuality, God was using those situations to prepare Joseph's character and faith for immense blessing of leadership that awaited him.