Got Problems?
James 1:2-4 (TPT) My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
What problems do you face today? Have you been focused and fixated on them? When you remain focused on Jesus, the problems you face will appear as they really are - small. If you switch your focus to the problem, they will enlarge and Christ becomes much smaller according to your perspective. God loves to be there for His children and help them, He is also just and righteous. Many times He will allow us to go through trials so we increase our dependence upon Him and grow in our own character. A good parent will allow their child to go through something difficult because they know it will benefit them in the long run - they will learn something and become a better person because of it.
I have a child right now that is 7 and she believes cleaning her room is very difficult. I don't bail her out every time and do the work for her - she created the mess and she has to clean it up. I do assist her sometimes to help motivate her and let her know it really doesn't take that long. I encourage her along the way and by the time she is done she is so proud of herself and shows off her work to the entire family - she becomes filled with joy! Now the next time she deems something as "hard to do" she can remember the last time she did something difficult and managed to get it done with grace. If I never give her the opportunity to learn and grow, then as she gets older and goes through trials, it could be torment to her world because she was never taught how to do things for herself and trust in the Lord, leaning on His grace. Little by little we continue to grow through our trials and as we do we learn more about our Creator along the way. Remember, Jesus suffered while on the earth, we too will go through suffering but it is all just temporary. Remain focused on Jesus and He will give you peace and even joy through the journey and we will not be crushed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (TPT) Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. We consider living to mean that we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. So, then, death is at work in us but it releases life in you.
