Time with God - Aug. 25, 2011
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Do you want to grow spiritually? Then allow God to take you through difficult times and wait for Him to do His work in you!
What could possibly enable you to face trials with joy? The confidence that those trials are actually opportunities to mature spiritually.
There are some aspects of the Christian life that come instantaneously, like being born again, or the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, or God anointing you for ministry in a specific situation. But there are also aspects of the Christian life for which there is no shortcut. Spiritual maturity is one of those.
There is no quick maturity in the Christian life. We want to just have a spectacular experience of the Holy Spirit and suddenly be mature, but it doesn’t work like that. Even being filled with the Spirit as a way of life is not the same as maturity. Maturity only comes from walking through the valleys, trusting in God’s purposes even when you can’t see them, and honoring Him all the way.
Is God asking you today to find joy in your present trial? He can grow you through it if you will trust Him.
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