God
is not a vindictive Being who cuts us down, belittles us and punishes us at the
slightest provocation. He loves us, and He cares about every detail of our
life.
In
fact, He loves us enough that He came in the flesh and suffered persecution,
crucifixion and death in our place. God allows trials into our life in order to
strengthen us and build up our faith.
We
realize that if we can survive those awful circumstances, then through Christ in
us, we can overcome whatever life throws at us. If we draw near to God and
resist Satan, he has to flee from us (James 4:7).
We
honor God with our love for and obedience to Him (John 14:15). Even when trials
pile up on us and we have too many to bear, they are never too much for Christ
in us to overcome.
Resistance
in the world of exercise builds stamina and power in our muscles. Trials are
the resistance that our spirit needs in order to grow spiritual muscles. This
testing produces faith and endurance in our spirit (James 1:2-3).
Trials
teach us to rely on God's faithfulness, as we look for the seed for a miracle,
which He plants in each negative episode that we face. When we see God's
purposes in allowing the tribulation, we learn to trust Him more.
We
learn to let God be God in our life, because He continually proves that He is
devoted to us. As the Master Jeweler, He turns up the heat on the smelter and
sifts off the dross that is tarnishing the pure gold within us.
As
we learn to trust God, we stop doing things our way, according to human reasoning
and wisdom. Our conduct is flawed, but God's ways are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4).
God's
Holy Spirit is our guide through the tempests and all troubled waters. He calms
our storms and lightens our load. He infuses our spirit with His strength, and
He proves to us that He is love (1 John 4:8).
Prayer:
Father
God, remind us that our attitude is what makes the difference in us traversing
life with positive or negative emotions. You keep us in perfect peace when we
focus our thoughts, emotions and attitude on You, and rely on You to guide our
steps in each moment of our day (Isaiah 26:3; Proverbs 3:5-6).
You
fill us with so much joy that it overflows into praise for Your goodness and
grace toward us. You shower us with your mercy and love and envelop us with
Your joy and peace. Fear and insecurity fade, as we experience Your Spirit and
Your presence in our life.
Thought
for the Day:
When
we persevere through trials by the power of God's Holy Spirit and by the
showers of blessings with which God floods our soul, we reign victoriously over
the devil, the world and our flesh; and we receive the crown of life that God
promises to everyone who loves Him.
- James 1:4, 12
