Faith | Grief

Trials = Increase In Faith

January 17, 2011April 30, 2017

Had a thought today while I was cleaning church.

God allows trials in life, things that we may not necessarily look forward to, and things that may cause us tears and grief. I was thinking about my doctor appt. in February and how I would react if they recommended open heart surgery. I think I would think, really? Again? But I got to thinking…

What if there were no trials? What if I didn’t have a belief in God? My trials and challenges would really have no point, but just to upset me and make me have a horrible day. BUT…without trials, we wouldn’t need faith. We wouldn’t need that inner strength and pure grace that ONLY comes from God! God adopted me as His child. I have received His grace, not earned it. I have received His love, not earned it. God gave it to me freely.

By being upset and sad about the things going in my life is human and expected. But today I thought, so I’m upset – does that mean I don’t believe that God can take me through or has a purpose in them? I remember in October lying on my bed just bawling my eyes and asking God why. WHY? It was at that moment I felt peace – a peace that God could only give. It was my surrendering my own ability to deal with the trials we were given, and accepting the fact that I can’t do this on my own, but I need God. I think it’s a fine line almost to walk. I think God surely wants us to express our emotions to Him because it shows we can’t do it without Him. But in expressing that, we need to BELIEVE that God will help form us and mold us into the person who He wants us to be.

It just made me think. If I dwell in the challenges God has given us, it decreases my faith in the fact that God has worked and will CONTINUE to work in us, through this. God has a purpose in everything. If I sit here and worry and about what will happen in February, it increases my thinking that I need to do this on my own and decreases my faith in God.

I conclude with the verses from James 1:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Talk about a challenge! Consider it pure joy, Dan and Kristin. I praise God that He put that on my heart today. I feel a little lighter in my step, more peace in my heart, and confidence knowing God knows what He is doing.

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2 Comments

Lindsey says:

January 18, 2011 at 1:38 pm

thank you for this message my sweet friend. such encouragement on a morning when i am feeling guilty for being so sad. but God sees my heart, knows my pain, and hears my questions but loves me all the same.

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Van Lente Family says:

January 20, 2011 at 2:49 pm

You have challenged me with this post. Right after I read this on monday, I switched over to facebook and saw that a "friend's" husband was choosing to stay at their "old House" that night because he had been having an "emotional affair" for a few weeks with a co-worker. This "friend" grew up as a Christian and I believe she went to a Christian school but has since "left the faith". She has had some bitter trials in her life. Her post was if things happen to make you stronger, aren't i strong enough already…. I have yet to write her anything partially because words do not necessarily help PLUS it is difficult when someone doesn't want to have the same faith has you. I just wanted you to know that this particular entry you wrote has really been challenging me. Not personally but in what I see other people saying, trying to grasp at straws in their life.

Oh, and I agree, the challenges are presented to us, to deepen our faith!

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