Have you ever had a season where it felt like hell, but you knew God was in it?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1: 2-4)
Seriously James, “consider it pure joy”?! Easy to read, not so easy to live. But, if you look closely, there’s a goal in the mind of God and it’s very, very good for you. Go on, read that passage again.
Seasons in life come to make us, that means they develop us to transform us. Sometimes we get ourselves in these situations and other times the Lord leads us. However we end up in a season of “trials”, God uses these seasons in our lives, whether He initiates them or not.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8: 28)
If anyone knew about a life of testing and trials, it was the Apostle Paul. And yet, despite his pedigree of persecution, by the time Paul wrote this letter to us he knew God works for our good in “all things”.
In the book of Hebrews we read confirmation of this, and I hope it inspires you to continue to stand firm in your faith, regardless of your circumstances, opposition or testing. The writer reminds us that just as our earthly fathers disciplined us for a season, so too does our Heavenly Father. Now, read this……
He [God] disciplines us — which you could read as “disciples us” — for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
(Hebrews 12: 10)
This is a wonderful promise of a life of intimacy God our Father has for us. He works with us and in us through all circumstances that we may, in His good time, share His holiness.
And finally, the next verse in the chapter totally clinched the deal for me.
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].
(Hebrews 12: 11 AMP)
Will you trust the Lord to work with you in this season of your life, that He would accomplish His good purposes in you in order that you would “yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness”?
Will you join me in praying this prayer?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being with me in all seasons. I submit to your work in my life, in all seasons.
Give me the grace and strength to stand in faith, despite what I see or feel in the natural.
I honour Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, the author and perfecter of my faith.
I welcome the Holy Spirit as my Comforter.
I look forward to receiving the peaceful fruit of righteousness, as you have promised.
Amen.