Trials and Storms

As we go through our Christian walk we will undoubtedly go through seasons of trials and storms. This is not something that we can avoid. It happens. It is called life.

James 1:2 says “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Did you read that? “Count it all joy.” So, we are told by the word of God that in these trials we are to “count it all joy.” I do fully believe that verse but we have to admit that it can be tough to walk out. No one wants to hear when they are struggling, “isn’t this great! This is wonderful!” No, we want to say, “this stinks.” (or worse)

James 1:3 continues by saying, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” There is that word again. Patience. I don’t know why I come across that word so much in my walk. Oh yeah, maybe because that is where I struggle, with my patience. I am sure many of you also struggle in this area as well. We have become a microwave society. We want everything right now and we want it fast. We don’t want to wait on anything. If your microwave takes four minutes to make popcorn get a new one so you can get it done in two minutes.

Verse 4 conntinues, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The last two words always get me, “lacking nothing.” Meaning that we will be perfect without needing anything else. Yeah, I am not there yet. I am still lacking quite a bit. But he’s still working on me, to make me what he wants me to be.

For those of you who don’t know my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer back in October. She has since undergone surgery to remove the mass and that went well. Last week she began chemotherapy. Through each of these steps we have believed in God’s healing power and we still do. We do not know why Deb has to go through this particular storm in her life but we know that God has a plan. In the past few months we have seen our Elder team hit hard with health issues. This is when it gets tough to “count it all joy.”

The Lord did give me a word for my wife a few months ago and that is through this adversity she will be able to speak into women’s lives more boldly and help women who really need a blessing. And that through this she will use the enemy as a footstool to elevate herself into a position of authority being able to speak over these things.

I have always believed that the Lord does not give us anything that we cannot handle and through each trial we can either choose to just get through it or gain something from it. But even with the knowledge that we are gaining something from this experience comes the thought, “I do not want to go through this.” After all, isn’t that what Jesus said? In Matthew 26:39 Jesus said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

That is what we really should be striving for. Not our will but His will.