Life ain't easy. Hard things, irritating things, inconvenient things, it ALL happens at once doesn't it? For example: yesterday, the washing machine started leaking, the dog escaped. I only had two hours of sleep. I caught EVERY red light while driving to class, I was late. The application to a medical program didn't go through because the lab lost my drug test and never told me. And this is LITTLE stuff that just piles up. Imagine if on top of this there were real problems like looking for a job or my husband having health issues? Oh wait...Y'ALL. Two things we can say about this:
1. That big mess of "things going wrong", this is how satan can distract you from your faith, lie to you, keeping you from remaining steadfast and praising God. Don't let him!
2. It can also be God testing you to make you stronger, the same way athletes endure harsh training to become faster and stronger.
I could easily have been mad, frustrated, etc. that day but instead...praise. Joy. Why?
We read in the book of James that trials should provoke joy: ". . . for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." The word for testing (dokimion) was used back when the Bible was written in old Greek to describe precious metals (silver, gold) put through extreme heat to remove impurities. They then become so pure they can be polished to show reflections.
Now when satan tries to distract us or God tests us and we go through the heat, what are we going to reflect in the end? Are we going to praise God through any hardships and come out shining? Or are we going to allow satan to crush our spirits?
I challenge you to this: When I go through any trials, when I am being tested, I always stop and first find something to thank God for. Then I ask, "ok God, what are you trying to teach me here? What can I learn here? Or am I going through this so that I can end up helping someone else? Help me through to the other side, help me see what you want me to see, to become what you want me to become."
And immediately after, I feel lighter. Start looking for a purpose through pain. And praising God through it not only helps you, but in turn helps others.
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Have any of you been tested lately? What do you think you can learn through it?
I know for me it's just being so busy (2 chemistry tests, 1 anatomy test, 1 lab test, this week! Help 😂) that I'm not taking enough time with God. I need to plan my time better so that I can get those precious minutes with God. It's got to be priority!
YOU ARE READING
Volume 2
Spiritualité*completed* Here we go with round 2...me writing down my personal revelations and "aha!" moments to help encourage and hopefully help or uplift you. All comments, questions, prayer requests, topic suggestions, and constructive criticism are welcome!
