Hope Does Not Disappoint 8-26-13 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3) I will soon be sixty years old. That is young to some, but old to others. My mother who is alive (at shh, age 80), says she does not know how she can have a son as old as me, when she is still just 29! (LOL) Most days I feel my age. In one way it seems like it has passed fast. In other ways, I feel every bump in the road that I have had to deal with. I would like to say that I am good to go another sixty years, but that is not so. I don’t have it in me. My paternal grandfather died when he was 72, and my Dad died when he was 73. From a practical heredity standpoint, I may have fifteen years left. The truth is that I am good with that. Whenever God decides my time is up, I am ready. Ever since my early teenage years, I have felt the trials of life bearing on me, and while most of those were not joyous events, in hindsight, I can see their benefit. I have by no means arrived, as it were, from a glorification standpoint, but I am not where I once was when God saved me at age eleven. The trials that God has allowed in my life have been His method of refining me into the person He wanted me to be. I can see that now, and ironically, I do appreciate His grace and mercy that have brought me to this understanding. God has a distinct and personal plan for each of us, and it does involve trials. It seems odd that James would use the word “patience” as the by-product of our trials. Patience, as we view it, is not a virtue to be sought after. In fact, in our world today, patience is a rare commodity. Nobody likes to be told to wait or be patient. But from a Christian perspective, patience is the very thing that leads to our perfection. “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 Many of you are going through difficult trials now, and you wished you could change the situation. One of the beautiful things about trials is that they do not come to stay, but they come to pass in God’s perfect timing. A lady who had been sick for some time recently died at age 84. One of her family members asked me why God did not answer her prayer to heal her mother. I said, “On the contrary, He did heal her. She is perfect now and whole; no sickness, pain or suffering.” “Blessed is the person who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” James 1:12. No one likes to suffer for any reason, especially when we have not done anything to bring trials on. However, when we suffer for doing well and allow God’s purposes to be fulfilled through our trials, we have brought glory to Him. “But if you do good and suffer for it, and take it patiently, this is commendable before God.” 1 Peter 2:20 God uses our trials to transform us into His special children, but He also uses our trials and how we deal with them, as an example of encouragement to others who struggle. None of us will ever suffer more than Christ Jesus, who paid a tremendous price for our salvation. And none of us will ever stand before God and say that our reward is not worth the suffering we endured. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:18. Each week I receive prayer requests from all over the country. Some of you tell me of heart-wrenching situations, and when I pray, it brings me to tears. I put those names on a huge white board in my office, and I continue to pray for them every day. God has answered some of those prayers, but some He has not. His sovereign will takes precedence over my understanding, and I must patiently press on by faith. There is joy in the journey when we realize that our trials are producing a great reward for us. “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint” Romans 5:3-5. “Father Lord, please encourage each one who is suffering through trials right now. Give them courage and hope through their faith in You. Remind them of Your love and their glorious future with You in heaven for all of eternity. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.” In His service, James Harrison
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:28:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015