James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
Are we wasting our troubles? Anytime God allows trials to enter our life, He has a purpose for them. He wants us to squeeze out every ounce of spiritual growth instead of letting difficulties squeeze us into despair and discouragement. If we'll just respond in the right manner, the trial that looks as if it could destroy us will become an instrument of blessing.
A most natural response to adversity is to groan and plead with the Lord to remove it. If that doesn't work, we might get angry or try to find our own way out of the difficulty or pain. Sometimes we resort to blaming others for the trouble. And in truth, someone else might have caused the problem, but ultimately God allowed it. No matter where affliction originates, who is involved, or how evil their intentions, by the time it reaches us, it's been dipped in the Father's love and shaped to accomplish His good purpose. The question is, will we cooperate with Him, or will we resist?
Perhaps the key word is found in verse 4 of James. God wants to use our trials to develop spiritual maturity, but unless we let it do it's work, that opportunity will be lost. If we could forsee all the benefits the Lord designed our trials to accomplish, maybe we'd be more cooperative.
Although we can't see all the specifics of God's plan, we know that His goal is to use our adversity to supply something we lack so we can be mature and complete. Even though the experience is painful, rest in the Father's comforting arms, and let Him to His perfect work in you.
Be blessed!
Are we wasting our troubles? Anytime God allows trials to enter our life, He has a purpose for them. He wants us to squeeze out every ounce of spiritual growth instead of letting difficulties squeeze us into despair and discouragement. If we'll just respond in the right manner, the trial that looks as if it could destroy us will become an instrument of blessing.
A most natural response to adversity is to groan and plead with the Lord to remove it. If that doesn't work, we might get angry or try to find our own way out of the difficulty or pain. Sometimes we resort to blaming others for the trouble. And in truth, someone else might have caused the problem, but ultimately God allowed it. No matter where affliction originates, who is involved, or how evil their intentions, by the time it reaches us, it's been dipped in the Father's love and shaped to accomplish His good purpose. The question is, will we cooperate with Him, or will we resist?
Perhaps the key word is found in verse 4 of James. God wants to use our trials to develop spiritual maturity, but unless we let it do it's work, that opportunity will be lost. If we could forsee all the benefits the Lord designed our trials to accomplish, maybe we'd be more cooperative.
Although we can't see all the specifics of God's plan, we know that His goal is to use our adversity to supply something we lack so we can be mature and complete. Even though the experience is painful, rest in the Father's comforting arms, and let Him to His perfect work in you.
Be blessed!
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