everyday
trials, perseverance, and God’s love
On Sunday morning I gave a message in church. I
wasn’t sure what to speak about until Saturday night when God poured all the
pieces on the table. I heard the Book of James, Trials and Temptations, and to speak
from the heart. So with this, I secluded myself in a room to focus and hear Him
more clearly. I heard more and more as I listened. In the end, I found the
sermon would be about trials and how we are able to get through them based on
the Word of God. The Book of James has it all folks.
I started with a story
about a morning jog my team took. Before breakfast, Julia, Casey, Erin, David,
and I went on a brief run because we had not in some time. Our twenty minute
jog turned into a two hour “where are we” walk home. The trial was getting
lost.
The first step to getting through any trial is
actually acknowledging a trial is, in fact, a trial. Anything that causes your
heart, mind, or soul discomfort is a trial. And especially anything that
crushes your expectations.
After we knew we had
reached a dead end down a street that took ten or fifteen minutes to get down
we decided to push through down a dirt path leading into who knew where. We
walked through this slightly muddy, treed road that eventually led us to a main
road. We knew nothing of our location, but continued walking in the direction
we assumed our home was in. We had to ask a few people where to go and were
pointed in the right direction so we pressed on.
How do we
persevere? The Word tells us many ways to overcome trials and obstacles.
We can ask
for wisdom. James 3:17 reads “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all
pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere.”
Simply draw closer to God. “Come near to god and He will come near to you.” – James 4:8
Humble
yourself before Him. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” – James
4:10
Pray. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and
pray for each other so that you may be healed. The pray of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.” – James 5:16
After we knew we were
heading the right direction we began reflecting our journey. We acknowledged
how much good came out of us getting lost. We were able to walk through a
peaceful dirt road covered by trees, see amazing views of the city and the
surrounding mountains, we saw an eye opening cemetery that stretched so far
into the hills, and we had a funny story to tell afterwards. God kept us safe
and we were thankful to all be healthy enough to get home.
After
you persevere you will feel and see God’s
love.
“But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what
he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does.” – James 1:25
“Commit
your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: he will make your
righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday
sun.”
–
Psalm 37:5,6
“Delight
yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
–
Psalm 37:4
The
more we seek Him and appreciate all the many blessings He gives freely, the
more He will give us the desires of our hearts and show us His love He also
gives freely. God wants us to be joyful and see our hearts at peace.
