What an awesome night last night! We had our largest group so far. We had new faces. We had great discussion and we had some great works and breakthroughs that began to happen last night. James chapter 1 in the bible declares, "Consider a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." Did I hear that right?? James just told us to be happy when we are in a rut? to be happy when our finances are out of wack and we are about to lose our home? Be happy when we are diagnosed with cancer and given a month to live? What? Could this be right? First of all, how are we to be happy? Well it starts with perspective. It begins by looking at the situation with the possible outcome in mind. When you look at the challenge as a learning and growing experience, something happens. If we live according to James, we know that challenges are inevitable. Not only are they inevitable, but they can be very beneficial. He states, "Let it do its work so you can become mature and well developed, not deficient in anyway." The challenges make us better people. If we get the right mindset we learn how to overcome and trust more in the Lord. In 2 Corinthians it states that we go through stuff so that we can turn around and help those in need. Those whose need is perhaps the same challenge we just completed. What an opportunity! What a chance to really be used by the kingdom! What a chance to love on your neighbor! What a chance to have your life changed and the others around you at the same time! Remember, it is all about learning humbly. When you change your perspective, your attitude through the trial will change as well.
If you had one month to live how woulod approach every challenge? Would you have a different mindset?
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Well said! Trials and hardships are indeed sure to come in the fallen world that we live in. I have found from my own experience that clinging to Jesus in the midst of a trial is really the only choice a believer truly has. To praise Him when all seems hopeless, and to lean on Him completely brings tremendous peace. Nothing is more rewarding than grabbing a hold of God with complete helplessness in a hopeless situation, and knowing that He is in complete control. After all is said and done there is room for tremendous growth, and strength. It will also amaze you how it affects others around you believers and non-believers alike. No doubt, that later down the road you can help someone with no hope, find it in the midst of trouble.
Great response, Steve. Thanks for responding on the blog. I like how you stated, "nothing is more rewarding than grabbing a hold of God." What people do not realize is, God is always there. I was thinking on this subject last night and had a realization. When the three Hebrew children were in the fiery furnace there was a fourth man there. Of course it was God. But do you think the Hebrew children saw him? Of course not. They walked in faith knowing he would be with them. The most powerful thing that happened in that situation was the on-lookers witnessed the fourth man who helped them through the furnace. Have you ever had a challenge in life when the people around you knew, just by your joy and the circumstance, God must have been with you?
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