We live in a fearful time. In the past couple of years we have experienced a world wide pestilence in our midst that will be with us forever. Tensions around the world continue to build without relief, as does famine and the mentality that wrong is right and right is wrong. There is no doubt that we all will be going through more challenges and trials in the future, as the world has become such a degenerate place. If you have not yet had to endure very many fiery trials in your life yet, consider that now is the time to prepare your spiritual armor that Paul tells us about in Ephesians 6:13-18! Without delay, study God's Word to get to know Him even more intimately. Even Jesus had to endure opposition from sinful men, and prepared himself well in advance. Hebrews 12:3-4 “Consider Christ who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
Because of what we experience in our trials and challenges now, we can have bold courage in the the ones to come. We are learning that His strength is sufficient for us even as we realize that we have no strength in of ourselves to develop total reliance on Him. Things I never thought I would be able to stand up against have happened, and shown me that with Christ, one step at a time, I can survive and become stronger. Loves that I never thought I could live without have proven disloyal, ending relationships I once held more dear than life. I have had to let go.....something I never thought I could do – and still can't without the minute by minute strength and comfort of the spirit of my Lord living in me. Romans 5:3-5,
and James 1:2-4 assure us that it is advantageous for us to experience this suffering, as it matures us in Christ by developing our perseverance, character and hope! Practice with relying on Him makes perfect.
As I ponder this I realize that what I never thought I could face, I can now stand before with the courage and confidence of the One who stands with me, Jesus my Lord! So, take heart and press on toward the prize for which God has called us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)!
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