As a new believer one of the things I struggled greatly with was the idea of affliction, the idea that God would place me in a test, a trial, even a season of pain. After all He is Lord of all, and He loves me right? Yes, enough to die for me, to even take my place on the cross. So, it didn't add up to me why sometimes it seemed like my prayers were bouncing off heaven's walls, why I had people leave, so called friends betray me, and my world turn upside down. What I didn't realize during those seasons was that I wasn't so much afraid of the trials, and tests but I was more concerned with being uncomfortable, placed outside my comfort zone, and having to walk outside the orderly lines of the cookie cutter life I had designed for myself in my mind. But how can God truly love us and leave us as we are? You see, He sees me not just as I am now, but He sees the me He created me to be, He sees my possibility. James 1:4 says "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " Perseverance is defined as steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. So my friend this year let's persevere in the upward call of Jesus Christ, despite delays, in spite of difficulties, knowing that the One who calls you is faithful, and will complete the work He has began in you.
The joy of the Lord is our strength...it is not contingent on outward circumstances, feelings, or what we can readily see. God is strong, He is mighty to save, and like the good Father that He is, He cares about every area of our lives. He desires that in all things we would prosper, even as our soul prospers. He is never far away from our cries, no matter how isolated we may sometimes feel, He is closer than our very breath. No matter what raging sea lies before you threatening to engulf your very life, remember that we serve a God who can still the waves. No matter what furnace you find yourself standing in, remember that we have a Lord who walks in the fire with us, and keeps us from being burned by the flames . Is anything too hard for God? Trust Him, at the appointed time He will move on your behalf. “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” Psalms 18:6 ESV http://bible.c
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