Have you ever tried to memorize an entire book of the Bible? Just after college, a group of my best friends and I set out to do just that. Our logic told us to pick a shorter book and one that flowed like a story, rather than a list of rules or Psalms. We decided to memorize the Book of James.
Now, I should preface this with the fact that I am absolutely horrible at memorizing. Growing up with a form of dyslexia and a complete disdain for anything literary, I knew this would be an incredible challenge. But alas, we set a due date of one month to have the entire book committed to memory. I didn’t make it very far.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” I assure you, I felt as if I had met one of the various trials James spoke of.
Through the research conducted for the Discipleship Pathway, the next Signpost for us to discuss is Exercising Faith. Just as James had described, it is in this exercising of our faith that produces endurance, which must complete its work so that we can be mature and complete believers. The research discovered that suffering was a point at which growing disciples look for God’s hand rather than seek an easy exit.
No one enjoys suffering, but it is in the suffering that the Apostle Paul found that God’s grace is more than sufficient in the midst of it. Suffering is, in fact, promised to all believers in Philippians. 1 Peter tells us that our suffering develops in us a faith that is more valuable than gold and may result in praise, honor, and glory to Jesus. What an incredible thought! How is it that the struggles and trials I face develop me into a more faithful follower?
On the wall in my office, I have a simple drawing of a few lines that represent my life in simplicity and my life in complexity. It is through those times when I find my life complex, in trials of many kinds, that I know my faith is being developed. It may not be fun, nor do I look forward to these trials, but the hope I have in faith is that I will come out the other side of it as a more refined person.
When a disciple is being transformed by Christ, they show a confidence that God is active in providing for their needs in every circumstance. When was the last time you went through a trial? Was your faith strengthened as a result? What are areas of your life that need a closer examination so that you too can exercise faith in those areas? Lean on God. Depend on God. Trust Him in your trials.
This truly made me think. I need to examine my faith, listening to Christ with an open mind and most of all my tongue. When to speak and when not to.
I don’t always see it that way when I’m going thru (keyword Thru) because it hurts, provides discomfort and wrecks havoc on my nerves lol but afterwards I usually do come around to seeing it as growth. Just hard to feel that way in the midst of the trial/sufferings!
Praise God for that awesome word! I have areas in my life that need a closer examination. Help me dear God to not lean on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge God so he can direct my path!
I have stage 4 cancer and it has brought me closer to the lord than any time in my life. The lord you might say thumped me on top of the head, and got my attention real fast. I can not really say my cancer is a gift but there has been so much good in my life since I was diagnosed. I pray each day that people can see Jesus through my faith.
I love articles like yours because they hit home. I see it different than most because in these times I can really relate to what you are saying. I thank the Lord is testing me and this is one test I will not fail.
The writer, Andrew Hudson hit the nail on the head! In times of trials and trouble I talk to Him and trust in Him, as Job said, “though He slay me, yet I will trust Him”. Being the father of 6 children and nine grandchildren I only have Him to turn to in times of trouble for guidance and to be consoled.
I struggle greatly with trusting the Lord in matters of health. I always seem to want to control the outcome of health matters. I want God to give me the outcome I want. I hate the word cancer most of all.I have been a believer for many years and I want to get beyond this battleground of anxiety so people will be able to see more of Jesus in me everyday.
I commend you for your work of strengthening the souls of JESUS disciples and encouraging us to continue in the faith.i have enjoyed it so much.it is wonderful to know that there are still faithful ones of the LORD like you.may THE HOLY FATHER in heaven pour more blessing on you. Many of the LORDS disciples have fallen away from the faith because these unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure and money rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness people but denying its power. Jesus our LORD warned us about such that they will come during the last days. But let us believe this that we are hated by everyone on account of JESUS name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.they have brought the world to the church by preaching about it, praising it and worse of all teaching the disciples to love it.They set their mines on earthly things.1 Timothy 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. John 15:18 -19
This is My command to you: Love one another. 18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. John 16:1 have told you these things so that you will not fall away.