I don’t like conflict and I don’t enjoy problems, pain or trouble of 
any kind. I am pretty sure that you feel the same. I would love for life to float along on a sea of calm waters, sunshine hitting me just right, and wind softly blowing through my hair. Picture Perfect Life.
But, life is not like that picture. Rather than trying to make our life fit into that frame, it’s a good idea to take a Biblical perspective of the problems and pain we encounter. With a Biblical perspective we can have a new kind of hope that God, in the middle of pain, is working to shape us, heal us, redeem the broken pieces in us…as he makes us more like Jesus.
How does that work? Scripture tells us that all of our problems produce something in us. We probably don’t typically face a problem with the joy that the Bible encourages us to have in the presence of pain. Perhaps we think that such a notion is just plain dumb. But, why did he tell us to have joy in our trials? Because he knew, what we need to know…Problems Produce Something in Us!
Today’s Truth: James 1:2
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Perseverance: To be able to persist in a purpose despite obstacles
All of us, as believing women, are called to walk with Christ in a way that would identify us as a Christ Follower. Consider it pure joy? When was the last time you did that?
Sometimes the obstacles we face just in our daily circumstances or interior worlds leave us wanting to give up trying to walk with God. It would be easier to just do what we want, throw in the faith towel, and realize that maturity is over-rated. But, God has a better plan.
In the middle of your storm, God is calling you closer to him. In the place of trial, He is developing something in you. The perseverance He is developing will be something that will mature you in faith and complete you. It isn’t over-rated, it is a wonderful promise that our pain and problems are producing something.
Today, stop and hand deliver your problem to Jesus. He is waiting to take it, give you strength for the details in the meantime, and change you through the very thing that seems too hard to bear.
Isn’t it good to know a God who uses everything in our lives?
He has the power to redeem our pain and make it into something beautiful as he changes us from within.
Today’s Prayer
Father, Change me. Change how I view my life, my problems and my pain.
This is actually amazing for me to read today because I was just thinking about how God’s work in the lives of women that I admire seems to all have a common theme. They have so much faith in God because of his faithfulness to them during all their pain and suffering. I used to be scared about being such a woman of faith because of the possibility of having so much happen but this devotion reminds me that its for my good. God is continually working even when it seems that nothing is happening.