How often do we bail or fail as soon as things get uncomfortable? ‘But God, this is hard!’ We want to climb mountains or run marathons but can’t manage the strength to push ourselves away from the dessert table. (This is Indiana, where interval training is how many times you go up to the pizza buffet in one evening…)
How many of us are longing for physical strength, for intellectual wisdom, for emotional grace, for rich and intimate relationship, for joy and completeness in our souls? But we give up and throw in the towel before letting God finish the work He is starting…
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)
That word “testing” refers to refining or proving something, like making precious metals pure in fire. “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” ( Proverbs 27:21 NIV) Could it be that there is a purpose for the trials and testing into which we fall so easily and often? That the heat we feel is meant to burn off all the stuff that makes us less than what God desires?
There’s a point and purpose to perseverance. To the one who gives their life to Him, God is transforming them to be complete, to be mature – physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, spiritually.
Maybe God puts greater and greater challenges in front of you so that - with Him - you can develop the faith and fortitude to step into even greater things.
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