All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

In Facing our Adversity .....What does it means to be complete? A Life to Live to the Fullest....(Part 8)

We want to be spiritually grown, but we don't like growing because growing hurts.

Growing can be painful. For example, some children have "growing pains" because of their rapid growth.

This can also be true spiritually. Specifically, God may stretch you by putting uncomfortable circumstances in your life. Why? He uses the hard times to stretch your faith, your patience, and your love. This stretching is what causes growth: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

In other words, God uses the difficult circumstances in your life to cause you to grow closer to Him. If you look back over your life, you'll probably notice that the times you grew the most spiritually were often the times that were the most difficult.

If, however, you fight against the hard circumstances in your life, then you will never fully grow up. So, instead of fighting against life, take the advice of James 1:2-4: "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."

Decide to press on and go through so that your faith may grow. Go through the hard times in life trusting God, and then you will grow to be "mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Despite being assured affliction and suffering, Christ-followers can be joyful nonetheless.

We can be joyful not by creating a bubbly-faced facade of happiness to hide reality but rather by confidently knowing that, in the face of immense sin and suffering, we are secure in Christ. Why fear and be saddened by those who can only kill the body when you're protected by Him who can keep you from hell (Luke 12:4-7)? Or, to put it positively, rejoice that you have received the Holy Spirit, who guarantees your eternal salvation—and thus, your eternal joy (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

The faith that justifies is the very same faith that satisfies. Saving faith satisfies us by weaning us from the short-lived satisfaction of sin to ultimate satisfaction in Christ.

Thus, despite the fact that suffering will come even—or, perhaps, especially—to us who profess faith in Christ, we can have great joy not because we are spared affliction but because we are completely satisfied in Christ.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tikkie on January 8, 2010 at 1:26am

A wonderful example.The message was really good and inspiring

Permalink Reply by William Wilson on January 8, 2010 at 3:00am

This Morning i am reading Ruth 2:2-3 where it says Divine Sovereignty And Human Respnsibility.Read it for yourself.Godbless.

Permalink Reply by Christy Gabriel on January 8, 2010 at 6:20pm

I like this very much and thank you for sharing this with me. It suits my circumstances now. So much troubles but Jesus is always with me to protect and carry me in His hand. Praise the Lord. God bless us all always.Christy Gabriel

Permalink Reply by once upon a time on January 9, 2010 at 4:07am

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”- Matthew 6:19-21

Praise be Name of our Living God. I am thankful to the Lord for posting this, ate! I am blessed for the Holy Words of God that inspired me. It is high-lighted that the Lord is very faithful and full of grace. It is always reminding me to entrust it all to Eternal God whatever adversities in my life, I knew He is always there to uphold us. Praise God. to God be the glory.

May the Lord continue to enlighten us.

God's honor,ladyhumble

Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Harris on March 1, 2010 at 10:25pm

Very encouraging, we face adversity in some form everyday, we must be ready and let God do His work in us and through us.Good examples.

Permalink Reply by CESAR HUSMILLO on March 2, 2010 at 1:24pm

Though a just man may have afflictions in his life, the Lord will deliver him out of them all (Job 5:17-27; Ps 34:19). The righteous cry unto the Lord in their troubles, and He delivers them out of every one (Ps 34:6,17). He holds them by the hand, and He lifts them up from their troubles (Ps 37:24).

Faith in Christ will overcome devil's works. God bless.

Permalink Reply by Steve on May 18, 2010 at 6:17am

In adversity God's love never fail. I am blessed by what you sent me. God bless you.

Permalink Reply by Tikkie on May 18, 2010 at 8:31am

What is written is true.We have tp pray for HIS Guidance always in Our daily lives.HE should mould us in whatever circumstances we are.OUR LORD LOVES US DESPITE OUR FAULTS and THAT IS THE GREATEST BLESSING WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES.May GOD Bless You and Your family and Guide You

Permalink Reply by Andrea Haase on May 18, 2010 at 11:45am