Refuge for a Single Mom

Yesterday, we ended with this verse: In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other. So that man will not discover anything [that will be] after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Ouch! God created adversity? Looks that way! Well, why might He do that? I mean, what good could come out of adversity?

I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 If you look back over your life, and consider the times most adverse, did you learn something? Did you grow? Did you run to God? Did you wash your robes?

So that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ I Peter 1:7 Chances are you sought the relief of Jesus Christ. You probably prayed, asked your church and friends to pray! You exercised great faith and belief!

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:9-10

It all boils down to this, you will face a series of `Life Tests`. You certainly can`t bumble around in life ignorant and naïve as the day you were born! The Lord wishes for us to grow strong in mind, body and spirit! He wants us to become more like Him. In His image! Now the truth of the matter is that we will NEVER be as good as God! NEVER! And anyone that attempts to tell you otherwise is way off! We are human, we are sinners and we are continually trying to grow closer to God. To become more God-like! Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

With each test you `pass`, you move to a higher `level`. For example, I tried and tried to overcome `cussing`. I thought it was so awful that I cussed; I knew it was a sin and I didn`t think I`d ever beat it! No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

I used to backslide a few times a day. I gauged myself on how many times I said a bad word per day. Eventually, with much willpower and the grace of God, it slacked off to days per week and now I only cuss once in a blue moon! Don`t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Now that I`ve `graduated` past this sin/addiction the Lord is dealing with me regarding gossip. (Gossip in and of itself is a whole other can of worms! So for now we`ll just deal with the sin/addiction in general!) Regardless of the level I am at or the amount of this I do, it is a sin! My point here is, I never realized I had a problem with gossip, I was focused on overcoming the cussing.

As we proceed further and further along, the Lord fine tunes us more and more. First it is the more `huge` and obvious sins and as we grow, He reveals the innermost workings of our minds and souls!

For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. II Corinthians 2:9 Ultimately, we show faith and obedience by listening to God and making the necessary changes to become the best Christian we (each one of us in our own capacity) can possibly be!

Labels: Adversity, Growth, Learning, Tests, Tribulation