God is for you, not against you.

 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Rom 8:31–32 NIV

Your life is a gift. You are because God is. Your talents and abilities are from God.

God has good plans for your life, but you may not see it.

An American was a world champion shooter. He was on the verge of winning a gold medal at the Olympics. His last shot was a direct hit. He was delighted, but then shocked. He had hit the wrong target. No medal!

You may have talent, but despite hard work and remarkable achievements, you are frustrated. Many people try very hard but are unfulfilled.

Vincent van Gogh is still world-famous as an artist, but he was not respected during his lifetime. His family were devout Christians, and very strict Calvinists at that. He was supposed to become a preacher, but everything went wrong.

He was very depressed, but in his church there was no understanding of mental illness or God's miraculous healing. Thank God we have good psychiatry in our time and also Christian ministries where you can receive healing.

We are obviously in the end times. Many Christians focus on the schemes of the devil that can be seen everywhere, but in our time God has also given marvellous gifts.

We now understand much better that Jesus is not only the Saviour and Redeemer, but also the Healer who heals all diseases, just like in the Bible.

If Vincent van Gogh and his family had understood God's plans better, he might have experienced miraculous healings. His gift as a painter would have been recognised and he would have been able to manifest his Christian faith as an artist.

Thank God we have miraculous healing services today and also good psychiatric care. I know Christians who need both. God is so good.

I know Christians who, despite loving support from friends or family, were often overwhelmed by stress, illness or panic until they got the help they needed with good care and psychiatric medication.

 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Rom 8:31–32 NIV

Many of us need counselling, healing and good care to release our talents. Then we need wisdom to understand what God's purpose and plan is for our lives.

Each of us is unique and somehow different. Vincent van Gogh was not meant to be a preacher, as he was expected to be, but an artist.