Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
Ever wonder why when we are being “faithful” we still face trial, struggle, and face “pain”?
My day started yesterday with that question from a friend who is walking through a dark time.
We countered with this from James 1:
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
Later I was at the hospital with a brother facing surgery; again a faithful man, a GOD loving man but there was some fear and questions in his eyes and on his face. He had that look of "why".
We countered with a prayer of hope and providence; trusting GOD to be GOD. He is doing well.
Another in my office trying to figure out "why this and why that”.
Another facing some jail time even though he was “doing better”.
A friend last night in tears just asking "why GOD"?
Then this little clip from a friend’s post from the 3rd.
Kip and I have been reading and reflecting (well, I can only speak for myself on the last part) on 2 Peter 1 where it says that "we have been given everything for life and godliness," and basically that because of what God has already done for us, we can grow in character to be more like him so that we are more effective in fulfilling what he has laid out for us to do. It's relieving to know that I don't have to muster up the strength or gumption or some internal pool of goodness (not that I have one!) to try to be godly- all I have to do is to keep tapping into him relationally and choose to "walk in the light as he is in the light" (1 John). I certainly miss the mark on a daily basis, but don't worry about the resources for whatever comes our way to be there.
Kip has been debilitated by Guillain–Barré syndrome for more than 5 weeks. They have a right to ask why. But my friend has a wonderful handle on that question doesn't she?
She has a great handle on the "why".
What are the reasons for trial?
To develop our character? Yes.
To encourage greater reliance on GOD? Yes.
To push us to trust GOD's GOODNESS more? Yes.
To develop our relationship with Him and others? Yes
To refine us and our faith? Yes.
And to sometimes remind us of this...
1 Peter 1:5-9
God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—
We CAN counter the "why's" effectively knowing that:
GOD is watching over us in our trials and pain.
GOD has promised ULTIMATE healing for all who BELIEVE.
GOD allows our faith to be tested to REFINE it and PURIFY it.
GOD is developing us for HIS GLORY.
GOD is ALWAYS GOOD. (Romans 8)
Perhaps you too are facing a trial. Perhaps you too are wondering "WHY".
Listen to Peter. He has the proper response to the "whys".
Even though you have never seen Him, love GOD and trust Him!
Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
Ever wonder why when we are being “faithful” we still face trial, struggle, and face “pain”?
My day started yesterday with that question from a friend who is walking through a dark time.
We countered with this from James 1:
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
Later I was at the hospital with a brother facing surgery; again a faithful man, a GOD loving man but there was some fear and questions in his eyes and on his face. He had that look of "why".
We countered with a prayer of hope and providence; trusting GOD to be GOD. He is doing well.
Another in my office trying to figure out "why this and why that”.
Another facing some jail time even though he was “doing better”.
A friend last night in tears just asking "why GOD"?
Then this little clip from a friend’s post from the 3rd.
Kip and I have been reading and reflecting (well, I can only speak for myself on the last part) on 2 Peter 1 where it says that "we have been given everything for life and godliness," and basically that because of what God has already done for us, we can grow in character to be more like him so that we are more effective in fulfilling what he has laid out for us to do. It's relieving to know that I don't have to muster up the strength or gumption or some internal pool of goodness (not that I have one!) to try to be godly- all I have to do is to keep tapping into him relationally and choose to "walk in the light as he is in the light" (1 John). I certainly miss the mark on a daily basis, but don't worry about the resources for whatever comes our way to be there.
Kip has been debilitated by Guillain–Barré syndrome for more than 5 weeks. They have a right to ask why. But my friend has a wonderful handle on that question doesn't she?
She has a great handle on the "why".
What are the reasons for trial?
To develop our character? Yes.
To encourage greater reliance on GOD? Yes.
To push us to trust GOD's GOODNESS more? Yes.
To develop our relationship with Him and others? Yes
To refine us and our faith? Yes.
And to sometimes remind us of this...
1 Peter 1:5-9
God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—
We CAN counter the "why's" effectively knowing that:
GOD is watching over us in our trials and pain.
GOD has promised ULTIMATE healing for all who BELIEVE.
GOD allows our faith to be tested to REFINE it and PURIFY it.
GOD is developing us for HIS GLORY.
GOD is ALWAYS GOOD. (Romans 8)
Perhaps you too are facing a trial. Perhaps you too are wondering "WHY".
Listen to Peter. He has the proper response to the "whys".
Even though you have never seen Him, love GOD and trust Him!
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