All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
We want God to change our circumstances, but God wants to use our circumstances to change us...
It can be easy to think that God is obligated to make life easy for us and to remove all of our difficult circumstances. But, the truth is that during hard times God is preparing us for greater things. If He removed the difficult circumstances in our lives, we would probably never mature.
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In other words, rejoice in "trials of many kinds", because they test your faith, which causes you to grow closer to God. Indeed, God assures us that something beneficial can come from the hard times in life.
If you are going through trials now, take hope in the fact that almost everyone in the Bible who did great things for God also had to endure great hardships. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, Paul recounts many of the difficult circumstances that he had gone through: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."
Clearly, Paul had suffered greatly for the Gospel. However, God used those circumstances to make Paul more mature and to give him a great love for God and for spreading God's Word. Now, Paul is widely considered the second most important person in the New Testament—behind Jesus, of course. However, we must remember that Paul had to go through many difficult trials. It was those times of testing that caused Paul to grow closer to God, qualifying him to be a great witness for Christ.
This same principle can be seen in almost every other person in the Bible who did great things for God. It was during times of testing that such people developed the strength and character for which we respect them.
Therefore, don't always beg God to change your circumstances. Instead, view each as an opportunity for God to change you, making you "mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In other words, rejoice in "trials of many kinds", because they test your faith, which causes you to grow closer to God. Indeed, God assures us that something beneficial can come from the hard times in life.
If you are going through trials now, take hope in the fact that almost everyone in the Bible who did great things for God also had to endure great hardships. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, Paul recounts many of the difficult circumstances that he had gone through: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."
Clearly, Paul had suffered greatly for the Gospel. However, God used those circumstances to make Paul more mature and to give him a great love for God and for spreading God's Word. Now, Paul is widely considered the second most important person in the New Testament—behind Jesus, of course. However, we must remember that Paul had to go through many difficult trials. It was those times of testing that caused Paul to grow closer to God, qualifying him to be a great witness for Christ.
This same principle can be seen in almost every other person in the Bible who did great things for God. It was during times of testing that such people developed the strength and character for which we respect them.
Therefore, don't always beg God to change your circumstances. Instead, view each as an opportunity for God to change you, making you "mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Views: 7164
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Comment by Abonjo T. Titus on August 20, 2010 at 1:45pm
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Now has the eyes of my understanding being open. I thank God for your life. Amen.
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Comment by mungai samuel on June 2, 2010 at 8:32am
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praise God be blessed and glory be to God for your word have encouraged me in the situation that I am in. ALWAYS SHINE TO GLORIFY GOD
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Comment by The Shearer. on May 16, 2010 at 4:35am
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these words are very timely for me at the moment Kathleen,i think if a post on here could recieve a standing ovation ,this one has......thank you .
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Comment by kathleen aldea on May 14, 2010 at 7:34pm
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Amen and amen .. To God be all the glory...
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It really amazes me how God points a person in the right direction. I got interested finding who Paul was the other day, and then Kathleen e-mail came up pointing me here. "Ask and you will receive." Thank you and God bless.
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Comment by mark on May 13, 2010 at 6:21pm
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THANK YOU sister it came at a perfect time Mark
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Comment by Andrea Haase on May 13, 2010 at 6:08pm
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So true, praise God. I truly know that God wants to use our circumstances to make us better. Amen.
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Comment by Christy Gabriel on May 11, 2010 at 9:20pm
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Yes, I understand that Jesus is using our circumstanaces to change our situations. thank you dear. Praise the Lord. Haleluja!!! Thy will be done. CG
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Comment by Cynthia Doreen Asare on May 11, 2010 at 5:03am
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Bless you Kathleen, really God is using our circumstances to change my situation. He knows us more than we think we know. You are really a blessing to me.
Bless my friend,
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Comment by Tikkie on May 11, 2010 at 2:01am
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What you have said is very true. We can see this in the lives of Great Christian leaders but often we want GOD to act in our own ways.A person during a sermon once told about an incident.A Bishop from an Eastern Church was going to get a connecting flight to another city from an international airport.You know that the Eastern Church Bishops have this long dress and they also have beards.The Bishop took the wrong turning and the person in charge called out JESUS not that way but this way.He called the Bishop JESUS because of his dress and looks.The person said about this incident as point to illustrate that we all want JESUS to follow us but not follow HIM.This incident might be a bit far fetched comparison but it gives a point.May GOD Bless You and Guide You
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