Trials

Why do we have to go through trials- through pain?  Why do we have to go through something TWICE?  Oh, I know that this life is not meant to be easy.  

“In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” ~Jesus

  

I know that trials will come…and some of those trials will be a walk in the park compared to others.  But really…why will God allow some trials?  People will ask, “If there is a God…shouldn’t He be a loving God?”  OR “If there is a God…why didn’t He stop this?”   

 

God is a loving God.  He sent His son to die for us.  His heart broke then and His heart breaks now for us.

I don’t know.  I don’t have the answers because I am not God.  I only see the current position.  I can’t see what lies ahead.  I don’t know what is beyond it.  We can’t see whether it’s all good or all bad…only God can see…and He will use it all for His good.  His glory. 

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, perseverance must finish its work SO THAT you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~James 1:2-4

It’s raining here…and will rain for the next few days.  There will be no shortage of water here. :) But when we do lack of water…the trees have to dig down deeper to get the moisture.  That’s the way it is for us. God is the tree…and when we lack of strength during a trial…when we just can’t go on- we need to dig our roots down deeper to get His strength and His love.  Root down to rise up. We may not understand why we have to go through this trial…but we need to remember to dig deeper down to Him…to lean on Him…to know that “we can do all things through Christ.”

  

Jesus…stretched His arms out wide on a tree and went through His own trial.  God knows. Jesus knows what trials are.  He is in deep with us.  He went before us to prepare the way for us.  He stands next to us.  Reach out and grab a hold of His hand.  Take a step out into the raging waves…but keep eyes locked on Jesus.  It’s the only way not to sink.  It’s the only way to stay afloat.  He is calling your name during your storm…look up…lock eyes with Him.  He won’t stop calling your name….ever. 

Call out His name.  His name…Jesus- oh the devil will flee when he hears the name Jesus. 

  

There is only ONE self-help book that will be your help when life gets hard.  God's Word. When the trials come – and they will – the only way to get through them is to know His love for you.  Speak His name…Sing His name…in the hard times and in the easier times. Jesus.

In the present time is where Jesus waits for us.  He wants us in the present moment…not worrying about the past…not worrying about the future.  Right in this moment.  

“My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Romans 5:3-5 states: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

“And God is no genie and we don’t pray to God to pry something from God.  We pray to God to be prepared by God for a purpose of God.  We don’t pray to get more from God- we pray to become more in Christ.” Ann Voskamp 

So…when the trials come – lets dig deeper down for His strength, lean in to Him and keep our eyes on Jesus.

  

“I don’t think the way you think.
    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
        God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
    and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
    and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
    producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
    not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”
 Isaiah 55: 8-11

  

{preaching to myself}