Faith to Rejoice in the Trial

James 1:3 says, ” Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”

Sometimes when I am in the middle of a hopeless situation, hearing an ‘encouragement‘ such as: the trying of my faith works patience, doesn’t sit well with my hurting heart. Though, I understand the well-meant admonishment with my head, my heart is slower to catch on. Our hearts are where our true feelings lie.( Matt 12:34) Usually our first response is the one that comes from the recess of our hearts, and it is the one that is closer to our true feelings.

Yet, when I look at it again, I find another scripture in Proverbs 20:5 that talks about the heart advice of someone with wisdom and understanding. My view on the encouragement that sometimes makes me cringe takes a whole new perspective. “Counsel in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding draws it out.” Sometimes, for me, it takes the drawing out of the truths that lie deeply to help me see clearly before me.

In John 14:16, Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. He is the TRUTH of our every situation and circumstance, and in Him are found all the treasures of life and the lessons we need to look to in our daily living…. and hurting. (Col 2:3) He has given us every good thing, so we are lacking nothing, hidden within the folds of his love letter to us.(1 Cor. 1:7) It is here we need to turn in times of struggle, loss, pain, hurt, and brokenness.

But it is hard….

Some days the road is long and the clouds loom close and all you really need is a promise, a reminder that you are not alone and that someone sees you.

Even when hope seems lost and there is little left to cling to….. HOPE.

In each storm of my life, I can usually pinpoint the ‘aha’ moment of the Presence of God. He never left my side, not once. It is a promise that He continually keeps. He is FAITHFUL. I, however, can often waver in my faith, trusting the circumstance and my heart-feeling rather than what I know is true.

When our daughter was born, we were so excited. Everything was new and filled with joy. Not long after her birth, before she was 1, we realized she had a chronic health issue which could threaten her life .

It was at this crossroad where true faith had to become a reality. A Crossroad makes us choose.

I had to choose to believe.

Though, honestly,it took the journey and the traveling of the seasons for me to learn exactly what choosing to believe actually meant. It was hard. It was lonely. It was certainly, in my mind, unfair. But true to HIS WORD in Romans 8:28, He was diligently working it out on our behalf to bring about His promise of redemption and restoration in our lives and, most especially, in our daughter’s life.

The result certainly isn’t what I thought it would look like, but that is ok. Holley asked, in her post, “What can you tell someone who needs to know it is going to be , Ok?” Grab a cup of coffee and join me as we travel through His promises together.

Remember every season has a purpose in your life and a promise

Follow the seasons of the year, month to month, and see the path set before us. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time and a purpose to every season of our life.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

~Eccesiastes3:1

As the fall turns to winter there is a dying and a sleeping of nature; a time when a rest must occur so that the new life of spring can emerge. God created all we see by immutable laws which can not be changed or altered. He has set everything in its realm, including you, to meet an intended purpose.

Sometimes the cold progression of fall to winter and the heavily laden snow which falls can feel like it is suffocating your heart. But dear one, there is a reason… there is a purpose. If we hold on, we will see His handiwork displayed. We will see His glory. ( John 9:2)

Look to the Word of God as your first and final authority. His promise is hidden in there for you. As royalty, children of God, (1Peter 2:9), it is up to us to find them. (Deuteronomy 29:29) Purpose to find the truth which is yours to claim.

I learned, usually the hard way, during those seasons, to rest in Him. I could no more control the outcome of my daughter’s illness, than I could control the moon in its orbit. Once I let go… once I gave in.. once I began to trust, I realized I was given a privilege to watch God work on my(her) behalf. (Romans 8:28)

And because He is God, HE IS ALWAYS GOOD and the fruit of His handiwork, likewise, is GOOD.

God IS Faithful!

Though once in a while I questioned His plan. Ok.. it was more than once in a while, it was often. I am so thankful that His mercy and patience are long-suffering. I need that. Though I questioned His plan, I longed to trust Him. I found myself drawn back to His promises of hope over and over. These exceeding great and precious promises are yes and amen to those who are in Him. ( 2 Cor. 1:20, 2 Peter 1:4)

His Word took root in my heart, as a precious seed that waits in the fertile soil for the spring thaw to emerge. It saved my life, because it gave me life. Not one of his promises have failed. ( Josh. 21:45)

Routinely, I was drawn to Hebrews 10:35-39 which encouraged me with that heavenly hope. God is always looking out for our good, always looking towards redemption, and His restorative power is even better than the original.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great and glorious compensation of reward.

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.

For still a little while, and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.

But the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back and shrinks in fear, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe, (who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah) and by faith preserve the soul.

~Amplified Version

Every trip to the hospital with our child required an intentional inclusion of my precious Bible. The words of the doctors offered no encouragement and no hope, but the WORD provided ample promise and sufficient direction. It was this to which I would cling and claim, speak and pray, hope and hold on to. It was in this place of trial where faith took root, and out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth would speak of glorious praise to the King.

He takes those deadened places, and though the soil looks weary and lifeless, like the valley of bones in Ezekiel 37, God breathes the breath of life into our broken hearts to resurrect hope and faith.

Though the path is not clear and sometimes a bit blurry, DON’T GIVE UP!

I like to have the plan laid out before me and all my questions answered before I make my decisions. I am kind of like that little kid who asks ‘Why’ to just about anything . I found myself asking, seeking, knocking, looking, probing… continuously. Maybe a bit like the friend who comes at midnight to ask for bread in Luke 11. If you look down to vs. 9 we read, ‘Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.”

The path may have been blurry, but the step right in front of me was ALWAYS clear! He may not give us every detail, but He is always giving us enough to take the very next step. Trust Him. He is worthy of that trust.

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us(a fortress and a high tower.) Selah! { pause and calmly think of that.}

Psalm 62:8

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desired is fulfilled it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

I have learned to place my hope in God and his ability, not my own dreams, goals, and desires. Not in the faith of others. Not in the diagnosis. Not in the specialist. Not in the suggestions. Not in the fear.

Our daughter’s diagnosis controlled our lives, and then we chose to live. For a time she was sick, and then a reprieve would come. She had a chance to live and grow and just enjoy life. Then a time came, again, when the reality of her diagnosis hit us hard. I had to examine the depth of my faith.

Did I still believe in His promises?

Did I trust He is always Good?

Yes, I did. I grew strong in my faith, but I still have far to go. I am not completed yet. She is strong because of her struggle. He is perfecting us both. ( Phil. 1:6) We have persevered because of His faithful promise to walk with us and never leave our side. Depression could not keep its hold upon the moment because we choose to walk in life and we choose to embrace the power of praise we choose to believe that He is both good and trustworthy.

So what is the point I am trying to make?

If I could tell you one thing, if I could give you one gift that I know to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is that God is Faithful. He will do that which he has purposed in you, despite the outward circumstances. The feelings we are experiencing, while real and valid, are not the full truth.

I had to come to terms with this concept: my feelings are the facts, but His Word is the Truth.

His Word is my future, my feelings are not where I live and exist. There are many days that I stumble on that very concept. It is a lot less work to live in my feelings at the moment, but far too destructive if I stay.

You are created in His Image with an eternal purpose that no one can take away or change. There is greatness inside of you when you have the living Spirit of God as your hope and reward. ( John 4:4) As you exchanged a life of death for one of life in Salvation, ( 1 Peter 1:3), we are promised to be filled with His Spirit. ( 1 Cor. 3:16, Rom. 8;11) This alone gives us the power to overcome. ( John 16:33, Rev 3:21)

Finally, remember that no matter what we see in this life, God is forever Faithful. His plan is to prosper you and to give you a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) It will be ok, because God is Sovereign and still on the throne ruling in wisdom and love. He is trustworthy. His love for you is enough to gird you up and fill you to overflowing so that you can meet every circumstance with faith-filled courage.

Be happy in your faith and REJOICE! Be glad-hearted continually (always):

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

Thank God in everything, [no matter what the circumstances of life may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and mediator of that will].

Do not quench the Spirit;

Do not despise the gifts of the prophets,

Prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

Abstain from evil, in whatever form it may be.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete and found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He Who is calling you to Himself and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you.]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Praying today for His faithfulness to be a reality for you!

Blessings,