We should never complain to God about the hard times we are experiencing but instead we should turn it into an opportunity to praise Him and thank Him.
Whom He loves He chastens. It's a refining fire. The dross is consumed and we are cleansed. So thank God for the fires and trials that He puts you through.
Do not attempt to quench the spirit.
2 Thessalonians 5:19 "Quench not the Spirit."
Indulging in the lust of the flesh and the lust of this world is a way to quench the spirit.
1 John 2:15-17
The problems of this world are as the blink of an eye in the face of eternity.
2 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."
Psalms 34:8
Philippians 4:6
Ephesians 3:18-21
2 Corinthians 6:10
2 Thessalonians 2:19
Psalms 33:20,21
Psalms 96:11-13
Psalms 97:1
Habakuk 3:17-19
John 16:22
Romans 12:15
Philippians 4:4
1 Thessalonians 5:16
1 Peter 1:6-9
There are so many things to be thankful for.
The trial of our faith is even something to give thanks for. So really there are no excuses.
Job 1:21
Trials are promised to us as Christians but we are also promised the strength to get through them through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two great purposes for every trial or tribulation that we go through. One is sanctification (making us more like Christ) and the other is to glorify God. That in itself is a reason to rejoice. We are being used as a tool for Christ's glory.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Sermon notes.
Comments
Wed, 12/02/2015 - 00:14
In reply to Wonderful Notes Damari :) by Wings of Eternity
Thank you, Wings of Eternity,
Thank you, Wings of Eternity, for sharing that. I admire your faith!
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wed, 12/02/2015 - 00:26
In reply to Wonderful Notes Damari :) by Wings of Eternity
Ditto to Meghan. Beautiful
Ditto to Meghan. Beautiful testimony. The physical pain I go through day to day is comparatively nothing yet I complain. Recently I have complained less, but I still complain. God is teaching me to bear all things. Emotional pain is more common in my life, but Gid has been so good as to give me the grace to bear the pain (at least for the most part) with joy. He has taught me sooo much in the last few weeks. I feel so much closer to the Lord than I ever have in my entire life.
Oh, how I love the Lord! He is All in All.
Thanks again for sharing your story, dear.
I don’t thrive off of chaos: chaos thrives off of me.
Wonderful Notes Damari :)
Wonderful notes Damari :) It is quite true that God uses trials like no other tool for refinement. It is hard not to get discouraged and still trust, especially after such a long period of time suffering. For me, I have had an ongoing health issue that has caused me an extreme amount of physical pain. I've had that health issue ongoing for 12 years. I pray about it constantly, asking God for strength to get through it.
Recently, I felt God tell me that He was going to heal me and that I had to believe Him for that healing. I was so incredibly happy! Then He told me that if I was to experience that healing, I first had to suffer. Not exactly what someone wants to hear after suffering for 12 years already! Then He began to teach me through my suffering (which increased quite a bit), how it was refining me. How what I went through all those years changed me into the woman I am today. How it made me stronger, more compassionate, more loving. And most of all, it taught me a greater appreciation for Jesus and His sufferings. He showed me that the Bible speaks often of suffering for Christ and suffering as Christ suffered. Nothing draws you nearer to God than suffering. I have finally gotten to the point in my life that I thanked God for what I have been through and said that if given the chance to never go through what I did, or go through it all over again, I would choose to suffer again. There is truly no better refining than in the fire, and no greater joy then seeing God moving on your behalf in the fire.
He even more recently has been healing me and I have been suffering less (Praise Him!), but only after I learned the lessons He wanted me to learn. I want to encourage anyone who is suffering to take that suffering to God. Don't waste it! Learn what you can learn, and watch God increase your faith in Him by how amazingly He moves on your behalf!
Blessings to you always dear :)
"Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12