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Responding to the Trials and Testings of Life

"James 1:3-4  "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

I love the book of James.   He is so practical.  I may have used this verse before…you'll forgive me if I use it again.  It makes for a good stepping off point!  Many times God is at work in our lives…it may be to reprove us and call us back to Himself, or it may be He knows He can produce more fruit if He can just get our attention.  I don't know where this will find you in your spiritual walk today; but I do hope you will stay to listen.

Trials…that is God's time to put your faith to the test!  Will you turn to God and trust, or will you high-tail it outta of there and run the other way?!  Know that when your faith is being tested--no matter the trial or temptation--it is the time to trust God; but you must allow the testing to bring about its intended purpose--that is, to strengthen your faith and character.

man's response
Godly response
doubting
trusting
questioning
dedicated
willful
surrendered
independent
dependent
stubborn
submissive
fearful
confident
proud
humble

How you respond through the testings of life, speaks volumes of how strong your faith and character are.  Remember that!  When faced with a trial or temptation, who do you depend on?  Do you go to God, asking Him for the grace and strength to see you through it?  Or do you get independent and think you can do it all yourself?  Or worse, are you still at the immature stage of asking questions and dodging bullets?  Maturity!  That's what it's all about!  God is at work molding you like Christ.  Question is--how are you responding?  How you respond to the testings of life is a real display of how mature or immature you are.  Submit to God's plan and trust Him to see you through it--it is then that you will mature, and your faith and character will mature as well!


         May we submit to God’s plan

            and go forward for God!

             Merle

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