Are You Ready?

"The trials you are enduring now cannot compare to the joy that is coming."

Romans 8:18

 

The word "trials" is synonymous with "pain" which is not something we like.  We don't like pain!  Why?  Because pain hurts!  When we are enduring trials and struggles and pain, we have the tendency to lash out at God demanding to know "Why are You doing this to me?".  

 

Think about this: If you want to improve your health, you should make some changes.  One of those lifestyle changes is exercise. When we begin an exercise regimen we will be in pain and a great deal of discomfort at first, and our mind will scream at us to "Stop this nonsense!"  And we will be tempted to give up.  However, when we endure and keep working we will eventually see the results.  

 

You see, God isn't allowing pain and trials and struggles into our lives as some sort of punishment or demented joke.  God is working in our lives THROUGH the struggles, trials and pain so we will become ready for His indescribable gift of joy!  And remember, there is nowhere we can go that God is not with us, loving us, caring for us, protecting us, strengthening us, calming us, and preparing us. 

Unloading

The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 34:19 

 

In case you haven't noticed, we are going to face trials, troubles, and struggles.  If you aren't please don't tell me.  I admit it, when my life is going along fairly well, I tend to forget to thank God for it.  However, when the avalanche of struggles drop on me, I cry out to Him wondering why He would allow struggle to happen to me.  

 

Let's face it, if everything in our lives ran perfectly and we had no struggles or trials or temptations...then we would get complacent and comfortable and why would we need God?  Or would we simply take it for granted that He's making everything work for us?

 

I mentioned before that one of the nuggets of wisdom I was told as a child was: "If you ain't bumpin' into the devil, you're probably walking with him."  In this life we WILL have to deal with struggles and trials.  David made this point extremely clear.  And I love reading the Psalms because of David's brutal honesty.  Sometimes he unloaded his heart in anguish and others he shared his sheer joy because God had rescued him.

 

How about us?  Do we have such a relationship with God that we, like David, feel free enough to unload our very soul to Him?  Today would be a good day to start, wouldn't it?

Am I The Only One?

What exists now is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing truly new on earth.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 

 

Have you ever had to endure a situation where you felt as though you were the only one going through this?  It's a HUGELY frustrating feeling, isn't it?  After living through the stress and struggle for so long, we begin to wonder how anyone could possibly have an inkling of what we are enduring, much less care that we are slowly sinking and there's nothing we can do about it.

 

To be honest, we, as humans, aren't usually ones to come rushing to someone who is enduring a hardship, difficult time, or struggling.  Why?  Perhaps it's because they hide it well and we don't realize there's an issue.  Perhaps we prefer not to notice because we want to stay in the "no-sad zone."  Perhaps we feel drained from having just reached out to someone else struggling and we aren't ready to do that again just yet.

 

Whatever our reason, the person enduring the struggle eventually will begin to believe that they are the only one who has, is, or ever will face such a challenge as theirs.  That feeling can lead to despair!  However....God reminds us that we are NOT alone in our struggles.  Notice today's verse: "...there is nothing truly new on the earth."  Did you catch that? Our struggles may be new to us, but they are not new and they are most certainly not new to God.  Nothing surprises God!  And, as a matter of fact, God allows struggles in our lives to teach us how to help others later on who may be facing a similar struggle.

 

Yes, we will encounter situations where we slump down and wonder "Why me?" and we will begin to believe the whisperer from the pit who tells us no one cares, no one understands, no one has ever faced this, and the whisperer LIES!

 

One of the things I try to remind the Deputies and employees of the Sheriff's Department: "If I don't know what's going on with you, I can't help you or find help for you."  And it's true!  But start with God, He has more resources at His immediate disposal.  But understand YOU are NEVER alone!

I Am Grateful....!

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be grateful.

Colossians 3:15 

 

Peace.....  That doesn't seem to be what we see a whole lot of in the world today.  Just look at the all that is happening around us.  Peace?  Hardly!

 

But remember what Jesus taught us about Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage" - John 14:27.  Remember the Peace He gives us is NOT lack of trouble, rather the focus on Christ during troubling times!  And part of that Peace includes gratitude!

 

The Apostle writes, "And ALWAYS be grateful!"  Yes, grateful even in times of chaos.  Yes, even in times of struggle.  Yes, even in times of trials.  We are to ALWAYS be grateful.  I confess, that I have gotten caught up in all that is going on around me and have forgotten all I have to be grateful for.

 

When I am struggling, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I doubt, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am angry, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am frustrated, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I mess things up, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am happy and think it's all because of me, God is still in control and still loves me.

 

So what do I have to be Grateful for:

...those who care enough to pray for me and with me (in spite of myself).

...those who share a laugh with me.

...those who allow me to be part of their lives.

...those who let me pray with and for them.

...those who are willing to love and be loved.

...those who dare to reach out for help.

...those who reach out to help.

...I am grateful that God has allowed me to see another year (today's my birthday).

the list of reasons to be grateful is endless.

 

My challenge for all of us....focus on all we have to be grateful for...especially when we are tempted to let the world trample us.  Focus on the Peace of Christ and embrace it! 

Fired Tested

This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
1 Peter 1:6-7 

Ever have one of the "Tested By Fire" days?  You know the ones.  The ones where, if it can go wrong.....it will not only go wrong, but it will explode in your face.  The ones where you wish you actually a Star Trek Transporter to get you away from everything and every one?  The ones where you are just so exhausted and angry that you are about half a heartbeat from becoming a news story?  

How about the days when everything you had planned for, worked for, prayed for, hoped for, and sacrificed in order to achieve has just come crashing down around you?  Perhaps not all at once, but, much like dominoes, the crash is eminent.  Or perhaps that very dream you have invested yourself into achieving is given to someone else or perhaps even you to do the work but others are given the credit?

The examples of being tested by fire are endless.  The "WHY ME GOD!" moments in life!

Gold is tested by fire to remove impurities, yet Peter is reminding us that, as valuable as gold is, we are even MORE valuable to God! And while we are being tested by fire, it is not to punish us, it is to purify us.  Think about this:  When we are under stress (tested by fire) how do we react?  I admit I lose my cool more than I care to admit.  But I am learning.

God allows us to be tested in order to reach us, teach us, or example us to others!

I am learning, ever so slowly and stubbornly, that when God wants my attention, He's going to do WHATEVER it takes to get it!  The best thing I can do is listen!

We May Not See It Now, But...

“Do not forget this! Keep it in mind!
    Remember this, you guilty ones.

Remember the things I have done in the past.
    For I alone am God!
    I am God, and there is none like me.

Only I can tell you the future
    before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
    for I do whatever I wish."

Isaiah 46:8-10 

Have you ever taken a look at a Mosaic?  Have you ever watched an artist create a Mosaic?

The artist takes colored tiles, pottery, glass and breaks them into small pieces.  Then they will pick through the pieces and shards to find what fits their conceived design.  They each piece is fixed in place to create incredible images like the staircase above.  Each piece of mosaic art is extremely time consuming and labor intensive, not to mention mentally exhausting keeping the image in mind and focusing on making sure each piece is in place.  

The result of all that hard work and patience is breathtaking!  

Now.....we may not understand why we have to endure each event in our lives, but God does.  He is carefully and patiently making sure that each event is in just the right place at just the right time to shape our lives into the most amazing mosaic!

God NEVER makes mistakes!  He is ALWAYS with us, even, and especially, during the tough trials.  And His plans for us are going to be the art that someone else will see and be inspired by, because God never wastes an experience!

If you are going through a difficult, challenging, painful, or troubling time in your life, know that this is part of God's Mosaic called Your Life In Him!