"It'll heal up before you get married. Get back in there." was the uncompassionate response my basketball coach usually gave me if I complained about getting hit in a game. Even though I may be tempted to say something similar to my basketball players now, the truth is that there are always challenges and the attitude we have toward them makes all the difference. Notice how Jesus completely changes the normal viewpoint in His first beatitude, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
In James 1, the Word reminds us to "Count it all joy" when trials come. While this sounds completely opposite to our feelings, he then points out why, that the testing of your faith produces patience and if we allow patience to complete its work, we will lack nothing. There is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but a right attitude will cause the very trial to produce qualities that ensure growth. In fact, growth only comes through overcoming adversity by depending on God.
After being stoned by the religious mob (in Acts 14), Paul returns to the believers in Antioch, Lystra, and Iconium to reassure them that "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Likewise Paul, in Romans 5, makes his case even stronger. Our hearts easily agree with his first comments of how blessed we are through faith in Jesus to have peace with God and to rejoice in the hope of sharing the glory of God. But getting the whole picture requires hearing what Paul then declares, "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." To glory in tribulations means we treat them as a positive opportunity to enjoy God.
The key "because" is the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. When we know and trust the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with the love of God, there is overwhelming hope, or know-so confidence, that He will make all things work together for good to those who know Him and are called according to His purpose. He always leads us in triumph.
Therefore, challenges or trials are merely "steppingstones" to trust God and allow His transforming power to work in us and through us as we overcome every challenge of sin, the world, and the devil. We are the bride of Christ, and it is essential that the bride have every spot and wrinkle removed to become an "equally yoked" partner for the Lord Jesus. We are destined to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Many know that the world is in a great time of upheaval, an Isaiah 60 time of "darkness covering the earth and gross darkness the people." Therefore, challenges are sure to come. Rather than curse the darkness, God calls us to receive His light and let His glory shine in and on us. Having a right attitude toward trials and challenges allows us to look forward to what God is doing and to rejoice in the hope of sharing His glory through them. Challenges will allow us to know and experience God. Fight the good fight of faith that overcomes the world. Our coach, the Holy Spirit, says, "Get back in there."
It is very easy to count all of our blessings, but as soon as we have problems, we love to complain about them and we never take on our problems with a joyful attitude. As Jesus said and as you stated, we truly should count our trials as joy.
ReplyDeleteI believe that saying trials should be seen as steppingstones is a wonderful way to put it, these trials that we are facing are just small obstacles that we have to walk through and that is something that the Lord will always get us through. All together a great word.-Remy-Santana
If I offered you twenty dollars surely you'd take it. However, if it was stepped on, crumbled up, or tossed around on the ground would you still take it? Your answer was probably still yes. Why? It's because it never loss its value. That's how God looks at us. He see's or value as unchanged. We go through challenges to grow. It's also all about your mindset. If you focus on the negatives it'll get harder, but if you focus on the positives and the path to success you can make the challenge easier. God will walk with you always as long as your heart is right.
ReplyDeleteJames 4:6-8 says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." When we walk with God He protects us, but when we get off the path or make ourselves God then we get humbled. Being humbled hurts more than the trials we encounter, but trials guide us to the next place in life.
Aaron Henderson
We have definitely forgot how to count our blessings, by either not realizing what our blessings are, or not seeing our blessings as blessings. We are so quick to give up and be so negative about things, and yet we think we are still of God and of His nature. Well, God doesn't indulge in negativity and sad weakness. If we were of Christ, or God, we would follow what Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Simon
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