...it is part of my reflection as the year ended this 2009... it all started when i come to think about what happened in this year not only in my life but also to people especially to all children of God... yes. I can say it is a HARVEST YEAR for all of us! Some of you might say, "hey Kathleen how can it be a harvest year for me, if I experienced persecutions, being separated to my loved ones, I lost my job, I was diagnosed having a cancer, someone died in my family, etc, etc, etc..." This is what God revealed to me, yes. of course I'm not exempted to all these trials! As I always say- my life is an open book...as I encountered trials and difficulties in life, there I understand deeper about God's love and mercy, His power and majesty! And always acknowledge God's goodness.
A breakthrough requires a trial to break through.
It would be nice to simply wake up one day and suddenly be a mature Christian, but in order to grow up in God, we will have to go through trials. There is no other way to grow strong spiritually than to go through trials.
1 Peter 5:10 says, And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. You may not like trials, but this verse says that when you are going through trials after you have suffered a little while, you will grow to be firmly rooted and grounded (strong, firm and steadfast) in God.
Similarly, James 1:12 says, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Here again, you don't get the rewards (the crown of life) until you have persevered under trial and stood the test.