No matter who you are...no matter what you know...no matter how good of a person you are, there is one thing that we can all attest to...LIFE DEALS BLOWS. These blows (or trials) may be temporal or their impacts can last a lifetime. No matter the significance, one thing's for sure...although they never get an invite to the "life" party, they always finds a way in. No one says when they wake up in the morning, "Hey, life is too good right now. I REALLY need some bad things to happen...you, know just to balance things out." Haha. No it doesn't work that way. If all of us could live in total bliss, Im sure we'd go that route without question.
But as I think about the trials that I'm currently faced with, I turn to James 1:2-4:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.I love this verse because you dont have to be a Christian to understand it's practical application. When difficult situations come in our lives (especially the ones that are too big for us to fix), we are often forced to play the waiting game. For example, Men, you know how we do that thing that our girls absolutely hate? Then after the confrontation on that situation, we usually have to deal with the silent treatment. That's a trial that really works our patience. Because we're not getting anything out of her until she is ready...HA! But its in those moments during our trials that we are forced to stop DOING, and focus on reflecting.
Going through trials forces us slow down. Its so easy to get caught up in work, deadlines, commitments, etc. that we forget the things that matter in life. When those trials come, they bring pain. But that pain helps us realize the more important things in life. And as a Christian, that pain pushes the limit of our patience, and that leads to a greater reliance on God to bring us out.
So I stand here today grateful for the trials I'm going through. Since I'm not dead, I consider it a wake up call. My simple prayer for today: God, I pray that as I go through this trial...as WE go through our trials that in this moment of patience and reflection we turn to you. I pray that in this trial you continue to show us your mercy. Lift us out of our mess, and stand us at your right hand. Let our test become our testimony. And we'll be careful to share that testimony with all that we encounter. Thank you for your test. In Jesus' name we pray this prayer. Amen.
John P. Kee - I Wont Let Go
