Brad, Good thoughts here. Thanks for sharing. I've been thinking on what separates us from non-believers, or those who turn from God instead of to him in the midst of trials. You shed some light on that for me. Vicki ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 7:00 AM Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] Trials, tribulations, Tests > A thought while reading this morning in James. I love that book *smile*. > > "James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve > tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my > brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of > your faith produces endurance." --James 1:1-3 > > I've read this many times, sometimes while in the midst of difficulty and > sometimes just to remind me of how ought react when I do run across > difficult times. I've noticed before that this scripture says to consider > trials as joy because we are then strengthened by those trials, I noticed > today what this scripture doesn't say however. There are two things it > doesn't say, one I noticed before but I'll jot it down anyway, and the > other aspect will follow. > > It mentions that "when" we encounter trials, not "if" we encounter trials. > Perhaps this seems like a gloomy thought, that we will definitely > encounter things in life we will suffer and struggle through, and we will > not escape rough times, but I am somewhat of a mixture between and > optimist and a realist. A realist when things are rolling along fine, and > an optimist when it is time to batten down the hatches as the storm > approaches and the winds begin. It would be nice if we, being God's kids, > were protected from the affects of the world here, but the point is "bad > things happen to good people". Friends and relatives pass on, some knowing > Christ, and some not. People steal from us, damage our property, our > feelings, our will, our relationships. We even drag ourselves through mud > if we have a mind to. Fact is, we will experience struggles just like the > scripture says when it says "when" you do, not "if" you do. That is a very > wise thing to know that a preparation of mind set and faith can keep us > protected in faith that we do not begin to doubt or waiver. > > The second thing I noticed today when reading which is a continuation of > the thought of not wavering, was that it said that trials are the > "testing' of your faith brings endurance, and not the "killing" of your > faith. How many times have we seen in life, folks we know who seem to be > believers yet when a close relative dies or something bad happens, they > walk away from faith. What separates us from them? Without entering > judgement, I can only consider my own faith and consider, pray, and ask > God that what I have is a genuine faith, given and strengthened by God, > when such times counter attack it. If it indeed is faith of and in God, I > indeed can consider trials as joy because I know that what ever happens in > this life, I am in the care of God, that the "killing" of my faith or > relationship is not an option, and according to God's word, this > scripture, enduring such trials will only make me stronger. So then with > the knowledge that trials bring strength to our faith, ought we then look > to enter trials purposefully? No, just as we are forgiven for sin, we > ought not purposefully enter sin. We then would be testing God. Just as > the Scripture continues to talk about wisdom, and if you do not have it, > ask for it and he'll give it to you. Wisdom keeps us from entering such > purposefully or ignorantly. > > So next we find ourselves in the midst of a trial, a rough time in life, > it will indeed strengthen us if we do in fact consider it a joyful > strengthening of our faith with the full knowledge that God is with us and > will see us through it. Albeit might not be as we expect in every or any > situation but nonetheless we will come out smiling joyful with God's hand > on our life. How much more pleasantly and less stressfully can we endure > trials if we consider it a joyful thing even in the midst of it, rather > than not. It never said it would be easy, but God knows we are built to > have need to look towards a safe haven in the future of a situation, or > feel hopeless, therefore inspired such scripture and indeed the entire > gospel message of hope for us beyond this physical life. > > Brad >