King James Version (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This is my favorite passage of scripture in the entire Bible. It seems odd to count problems as a good thing. If I am going through something, the last thing I want to do is say, "Oh yes, my car broke down and I'm certainly glad this happened!!" Sarcastic yes...but necessary to make my point. Read The Message transalation.....
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
That makes me think of my problems in an entirely different way. I know when I go through a situation, especially at the expense of someone else's hand, I tend to make it about that person. I point out their immaturity, faults and shortcomings. I focus on how they did me wrong and why everyone should be mad at them. It is so easy to place the blame on the other person. So easy to say what they did to cause my problem. And then I go through...and boy oh boy do I go through. Someone asks me how am I doing and I take that as an invitation to explain my life and why its so hard. You know how we do!!! Someone smiles and says good morning and we sadly reply, "If you say so...." Then as soooooon as they can form their lips to ask what's wrong, we are telling who did what to us and why we are the victim. Or maybe that's just me...some of us have perfected the art of playing professional victim. Oh ok...back to me...we'll save that for another day...another post.
What I have learned from Brother James here...the test is not about the growth of the other person. It's all about me!!!!!!!!! What!!!! Yes, it's all about me. This is happening to me because clearly, God, who promised to sustain us (Psalms 55:22), knows that I can handle it. God knows I need to go through this so I can be confident that He can handle this. God has it all under control and He's making me better. As Paul declared in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
So if all things work together for my good, then I should have no problem counting it all joy. Each problem is only strengthening my faith in God. It's only making me become that much more dependant on Him....trust Him more....believe on Him more. I want my faith to get to the point where I can be like the Shunamite Woman who declared, "It is Well" as she held her dead son. Now that's some serious faith. That's where I want to be in God though....that no matter what it looks like to me, I can trust the eyes of God. I know my eyesight is limited and the images I see are tainted with life experience and emotion....but through the eyes of God...God who created the world. God who looked through the sands of time and saw me. God who knew me even before I was formed in the womb of my mother. I trust the eyes of God.
I believe that's where God wants us to be. He doesn't want us to fall to pieces at every test and trial. Instead in the midst of every storm give thanks (I Thess 5:18). The car won't start, Lord I thank You I have the means to put it in the shop. The kids need shoes, again...Lord, I don't have it right now, but I thank You because I know You will provide all my needs according to Your riches in glory (Phil 4:19). Lord, my money is low and my needs are high. I am not worried because I have been diligent in paying my tithes so I am standing in great anticpation of my blessing (Malachi 3:10).
When it rains, its never just one raindrop but always many. Trials are the same way. Tests come at us from all sides. Count it all joy and know that God is with you. He will keep you but you have to trust Him. He has the master plan.
be blessed,
msKim30
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This is my favorite passage of scripture in the entire Bible. It seems odd to count problems as a good thing. If I am going through something, the last thing I want to do is say, "Oh yes, my car broke down and I'm certainly glad this happened!!" Sarcastic yes...but necessary to make my point. Read The Message transalation.....
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
That makes me think of my problems in an entirely different way. I know when I go through a situation, especially at the expense of someone else's hand, I tend to make it about that person. I point out their immaturity, faults and shortcomings. I focus on how they did me wrong and why everyone should be mad at them. It is so easy to place the blame on the other person. So easy to say what they did to cause my problem. And then I go through...and boy oh boy do I go through. Someone asks me how am I doing and I take that as an invitation to explain my life and why its so hard. You know how we do!!! Someone smiles and says good morning and we sadly reply, "If you say so...." Then as soooooon as they can form their lips to ask what's wrong, we are telling who did what to us and why we are the victim. Or maybe that's just me...some of us have perfected the art of playing professional victim. Oh ok...back to me...we'll save that for another day...another post.
What I have learned from Brother James here...the test is not about the growth of the other person. It's all about me!!!!!!!!! What!!!! Yes, it's all about me. This is happening to me because clearly, God, who promised to sustain us (Psalms 55:22), knows that I can handle it. God knows I need to go through this so I can be confident that He can handle this. God has it all under control and He's making me better. As Paul declared in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
So if all things work together for my good, then I should have no problem counting it all joy. Each problem is only strengthening my faith in God. It's only making me become that much more dependant on Him....trust Him more....believe on Him more. I want my faith to get to the point where I can be like the Shunamite Woman who declared, "It is Well" as she held her dead son. Now that's some serious faith. That's where I want to be in God though....that no matter what it looks like to me, I can trust the eyes of God. I know my eyesight is limited and the images I see are tainted with life experience and emotion....but through the eyes of God...God who created the world. God who looked through the sands of time and saw me. God who knew me even before I was formed in the womb of my mother. I trust the eyes of God.
I believe that's where God wants us to be. He doesn't want us to fall to pieces at every test and trial. Instead in the midst of every storm give thanks (I Thess 5:18). The car won't start, Lord I thank You I have the means to put it in the shop. The kids need shoes, again...Lord, I don't have it right now, but I thank You because I know You will provide all my needs according to Your riches in glory (Phil 4:19). Lord, my money is low and my needs are high. I am not worried because I have been diligent in paying my tithes so I am standing in great anticpation of my blessing (Malachi 3:10).
When it rains, its never just one raindrop but always many. Trials are the same way. Tests come at us from all sides. Count it all joy and know that God is with you. He will keep you but you have to trust Him. He has the master plan.
be blessed,
msKim30
Once again excellent insight. Everything we go thru is a test that leads us into a testimony to show the world that putting ur faith in God produces a joyful and joy filled result. So happy that God loves his children unconditionally. Be blessed....Dec. Chinn.
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