Trials and Tribulations - Now is the Time for FAITH to Conquer All

A lot of trials seem to appear in many of our lives and sometimes it seems like they last forever.  I know mine has had it's fair share over the past year or so, most recently with major health issues.  But what do we know about trials and tribulations? 

1 Peter 1:7 - That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes when we are in the midst of trials we start to wonder — Lord, will it ever end? In case you haven't noticed, it doesn't. But the good news is that with each faith-testing experience, our ability to deal with these trials and tribulations becomes better and our faith grows stronger!

In this scripture, God compares our faith to a most precious and beautiful metal — gold. But when mined, this precious metal doesn't look very precious! It's dirty looking and black. How does gold become beautiful?  A refiner takes the gold and carefully melts it in a melting pot — slowly raising the temperature — but never to the point where it boils. As it melts, slowly the impurities rise to the surface and he will scoop away the dross leaving a beautiful pot of gold, ready to become your next ring or bracelet. Here's the amazing part. The refiner knows his job is done when he can look into the melting pot and see a reflection of himself.

The only way gold will become more precious is when it's placed on the fire! In the same way, the impurities of our lives must be exposed to the fire so that the Lord can scoop up the filth that shows itself when we get hot!! Notice, though, that He'll never allow us to boil! And then, when it's all said and done, He can look upon us and see the beauty of His reflection!

Let's not despise the trials we're facing today — on the contrary, let's embrace them! The Lord is using these things to prepare us to do great things for Him! Respond to the Lord today by saying what do you want me to learn from this today, Lord? And watch how the Lord blesses you through the fire!

In case this isn't enough, study on this: 

James 1:2-4 (KJV)

² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

So it is apparent that we are going to face many storms and trials of this life.  We must find ways to ENDURE those times.  I know for my own sake, my faith has pushed me through every single time.  Yes, I sometimes get weary and angry but then I just get myself together and know that better days are ahead and I just have to put my faith in God.  Don't get discouraged if you are going through something.  Build your faith and follow God's way and you will never be steered wrong.

~Amy

Hang on! You ARE Going To Make It!

Do you ever feel like you are fighting a battle that you just cannot win?  Do you ever struggle with something and feel that you have it all under control and just out of the blue you realize you don't  have it under control?  Those moments are tough, aren't they?  I have been there for the past several days and it has been hard but I understand every single one of us is fighting some kind of battle....every single one of us.  Our battles may be different but what they bring remains the same - pain, hurt, torture.  Sometimes it leads us to anger and sometimes it leads us to depression and sometimes it leads us to just plain self-pity. 

Let me encourage you that if you are having a setback know that God has almost led you to your victory.  It is always the hardest just before the dawn of the trial.  Satan knows that you are so close in winning your battle that he is fighting you the hardest.  DO NOT QUIT!  DO NOT GIVE UP!  And, more importantly, DO NOT GIVE IN to Satan's lies and deceit! 

God never promised our lives would be easy.  He just promised us that if we followed Him and His ways that it would all be worth it!  He knew we would have battles and trials along the way.  Here are some verses to prove this:

1 Peter 4:12-13:  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

2 Timothy 3:12:  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

God knows all - the beginning to the end and this trial that you are going through right now is no surprise to Him.  What matters is how we handle the trial.  When you go through a trial, it is your time to prove your faith in God.  He is always there, through every situation that we encounter, but He will not come in to our situation until we invite Him.  He is there, by your side at this very moment......waiting for you to invite Him in to your situation so He can come in and make all things new again.  But you have to take the first step. 

We may not see the purpose of the trial but God is molding our lives into what it should be.  When He does the molding it is ALWAYS painful but He promises us joy afterwards.  We all need to be molded from time to time and through the fiery trials we must go but always remember - look how coal has to be heated in such a fiery way before it is ever produced into a diamond.  If the coal would have cracked during the intense fire it would have just shattered and became nothing, pieces would be lost...but the coal continues to endure the fire and, in the end, it turns out to be a beautiful shining diamond! 

So, will today be your day that you say "It's okay.  I AM going to make it"?

~ Amy