Trials

Michelle and I had big plans for craft weekend. In the beginning of our "dreaming" about this event, we wanted to have devotionals, quiet times, and maybe even an early morning workout (Zumba or Yoga). When we finally decided on the date, we realized the week before the event that we hadn't planned any of those. I was determined to at least have a devotional. I sat down one day with an idea in mind. I wanted it to revolve around "crafts" so I thought I could do a devo on being "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139) and that we are each a masterpeice to our Creator. However, as I started writing, it was very clear to me that I was forcing the topic. I had my points and thought I'd come back later and finish it.

A few days before craft weekend, God laid on my heart to change the topic completely. I kept hearing the same verses over and over again in my life through bible studies, sermons, K-LOVE, and facebook posts. I decided that if this was something I was needing to hear, then there were probably other women that were coming to the event that needed to hear it as well. So, here is the devotional I used at Craft Weekend.

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Michelle and I came across many trials in preparing for craft weekend. Most of them were ideas that just didn't play out the way we were expecting them to. We had so much fun planning, but it showed me that trials can arise in even in the good times and events that we face in life.

Some of us faced trials as we did certain crafts (the wreath). Even though we were all doing the same thing, we each face it differently. Because we are each unique, we do life differently as well. We have different personalities, different backgrounds, different experiences, and those differences shape us into who we are and how we do life.

One thing we can know is that we WILL face trials. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, WHEN you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (patience). And let endurance have it perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." And, 1 Peter 4:12-13 also tells us, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

It shouldn't surprise us when we face trials. So, what should we do?
~Consider it all joy!
~Rejoice~

What? Seriously? There are just somethings that seem impossible to rejoice in or consider them joy, right?

Ok, so WHY should we consider trials joy or rejoice in them?
~We get to experience a portion of Christ's suffering
~They produce endurance or patience - leading us to a place of lacking NOTHING!

Trials then make us more like Christ.

When we face the hard things in life, we have to teach and condition ourselves to have this eternal perspective. This isn't something that comes naturally to us as humans, so we have to condition our response to be like Christ!

In becoming more like Christ, we glorify His name more and then people begin to see that we are different. Then we have more opportunity to lead people to Christ.

Our trials can take a toll on us. They can tear us down and the enemy loves to do whatever he can to take our eyes off the Lord. However, we have to rememeber that what the enemy meant for evil, God always makes good! Romans 8:28 tells us, "And, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

He's not asking us to be perfect in our response. To never fail. We will fail. We're human - we won't alwasy act exactly how we should in the face of trials. And, that's okay! Its okay to show weakness. In fact, its purposed that way. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul has been facing a constant trial in his life and God says this to Paul, "And He [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore most gladly I [Paul] will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

If we go through a trial and we are no more like Christ at the end, then we went through it for nothing! If we don't let people see our weaknesses so that we can proclaim God's power, then we went through those trials for nothing!!!

So, what are we struggling with?
~loss of a job
~things at work
~things going on at your husband's job
~living paycheck to paycheck
~feelings of not being good enough (as a wife, mom, friend, daughter, etc)
~feelings of other women have "it together" and you don't
~comparing yourself, your kids, your husband, your life to other people
~struggling with lies - "bad mom", "bad wife", or "God doesn't love me enough to give me _____"

Stop letting the defeat you!!! You are a child of God! We live in a fallen world. Bad things are going to happen! Satan will do whatever it takes to make you miss God's purpose for your life - or just doing that purpose well. For example, not being present in your life, wishing for the next "season", or or just anything the enemy can to take your eyes off what God IS doing in this season.

Here is what God WILL do:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me [Jesus], because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty from ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." ~Isaiah 61:1-3.

He heals the brokenhearted! He frees the captives! He sets prisoners free! He comforts those who mourn! He gives beauty from the ashes! He brings joy to mourning! He gives a covering of praise when their is heaviness! These shall be trees of righteousness!!! Because these glorify God!

My encouragement for you is from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Do not lose heart! What we see in this life is temporary and what we cannot see is eternal. Glorify God in the trials and He will prove His faithfulness. We must have an eternal perspective!

And, we need to remember that we, as believers, do this life together! We need to start being unified and not tear each other down. We have to stop comparing ourselves to one another and start sharing the load. Galatians 6 tells us that we need to be sharing our burdens with other believers.

We all are facing some sort of trial. Choose a one or two women to share your trial with. Choose to mentor younger women with what you've been through. In your weaknesses, God is glorified!

Let's love one another through this life so that the Body of Christ will live in unity (Colossians 3:14).