I hope you are having a good week! The Lord brought this topic to mind this weekend and I just felt a nudging from Him to go with it.
I've heard the expression that you are either going through a trial, got through one or are about to go through one. Not a very cheerful thought, but yet it is reality. As I talk to Believers from various walks of life, I am seeing that solid, strong Christ followers are each dealing with something, no one is immune to trials on this earth. It's part of living in a sinful world. But if we can prepare ahead of time, then the storm to come will not uproot us and we can deep our spiritual roots down deeper, and develop a more solid personal relationship with the Lord Jesus in the meantime.
James 1 says, "1 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
The bumps, trials, hardships, times of testing are God's way of growing our faith in Him, helping us to see His faithfulness, care and provision and presence in our lives in the midst of trial, and as painful as it is, refining us well. Job said in Job 23:10, "But He (God) knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."
I pray the devots. below will offer each of you encouragement as we continue to live each day during these unusual times.
I also found 2 short video clips below that were timely. The lady speaking is Joni Earackson Tada, an amazing Christian lady who is diabled due to a teenage diving accident. Her and her husband have a ministry to encourage and help families or individuals with disabilities in the US and overseas. I love her perspective on life and insight from Scripture!
Pray you would take a listen below. and be encouraged as well.
Lord bless you and yours!
VIDEOS FROM JONI EARECKSON TADA:
Perseverance through the Pandemic:
(ICR devots. used by permission. Taken from https://www.icr.org)
INTOUCH devots. used by permission. Taken from https://www.intouch.org)
DEVOTIONS:
The Test of Faith:
Seven Outgrowths of Faith:
God Will See You Through:
Your Pain Has a Purpose:
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