Today’s P & W thought: Is God tempting me? James 1:13 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” Today was a bit quiet at my household, with fewer visitors coming to see us even though God made sure we had visitors from the moment we had breakfast until a few minutes ago [2300]…we had a short break during dinner time which meant for the first time we [David & I] sat to eat at the dining table. Every evening we have our meals together, whereby David and I would seat facing each other and Lulu at the head of the table [to my right and David’s left]. [I normally have breakfast with David only] But tonight for the first time I felt Lulu’s real [physical] absence and the reality of her absence hit me so bad – because it is either David or myself that are absent as we travel a lot, but there has never been a moment when Lulu was absent. This made me cry so much and in the end I said to David that, for the next few weeks/months, I’d be having my dinners somewhere else in the house, as that empty chair is just unbearable and tormenting. The pain and sadness are beyond what I thought possible for a human to feel. I sit in this time crying out to God in ways I never have. Sometimes I’m tempted to challenge Him on fairness and goodness. Or I am tempted to ask God why ... But, the Bible is very clear, this is a lie… He cannot tempt anyone. And yet, is it not the case that were especially tempted to doubt God in times of trial? We fret and worry, Some will say - Is God really in control of my situation? Is He really paying attention to me? Does He really care about me? All of these doubts are sin, of which we need to repent, and which we need to confess. But, God does allow me to be tested and He permits my faith to be tried. He does allow me to be refined. Think of Satan at God’s throne asking to test Jonah. Think of Jesus telling Paul that Satan has asked to sift him. My experience is not pleasant; opposite! My situation, however; is common to man. Because of our sinful nature, and because of God’s unknown design, we all will have times of turmoil, temptation and testing. Each person’s is different from the next, but they are common to man. There must be a way out. Wrong again, there is a way to endure. This is where my test lies. Have I believed I could create a way out of God’s designed plan through my actions and words? Sometimes I have looked to my own strength and cleverness to find a way around what God says I must go through! I ought to be able to find a way! No, but I can find a way to endure. The way is found in The Way; Jesus is the way. He is the only way. Has my testing lead me to Jesus? That is the passing grade. Brethren, your faith will be refined. God will allow you to be tested and sifted to see if you run away or run to The Way. He is not tempting you. But He is allowing you to be worked, to be fired, to be cleansed. And it’s length and severity are up to Him. My friend, you must go through it, I’m sorry. So when you find yourself in the midst of your time of testing whatever it may be, stop trying to find your own way out. Stop. Cease. Instead, go find The Way to endure. Go to Jesus and go to Him quickly. He is your way. Jesus is the promised way to endure. He is the only way. Have a Sweet Sunday my friends … Bahati Bukuku
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:56:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015