I am currently being stretched in this season of my life. This sentence is found in many of my blogs and writings which rings true each time I type it. I am honored and annoyed that I have to share my flesh burning. I am just kidding but not too much. Right now, both my wife and I are being stretched in areas that we never thought we would need to be stretched in. At the beginning of May, God placed this scripture into my heart “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. I didn’t totally understand why the Lord put this into my spirit until a few weeks later after I accepted a position at my job and amongst the trials that we are enduring through exhaustion.
I have never been at a place of not knowing what to do at my job. I have been doing the same type of thing for many years and really haven’t had to learn a whole lot of new things. This new position has shed a new light on the flesh that has been covered up. I never realized how much work my flesh needed. But God, in His faithfulness, has uncovered bit by bit things that He wants me to work on. Some say, that will never end and I believe that until Jesus comes back, the work isn’t finished. He says that He is faithful to complete the work that He has started. Soon, it will be done. I am grateful for the opportunity to take this season and grow. Sure, there will be something else the next time. It gives me great sermon materials. It gives me hope to give to other people who are going through the challenges of the Holy Walk.
In Romans 5:3-5, Paul wrote “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” At first, I was taken aback by the fact that we are to rejoice during these trials. Just as it says in the book of Galatians, we are not to lose heart but to go towards that prize, knowing that if we don’t give up that we will reap a harvest. We are not to grumble and complain in the time of trial but to have the heart of gratitude.
Hebrews 12 shows us that “For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” God’s discipline and molding will always be for the good. As we are burning up the flesh, He is giving us a new heart. The heart that was once stoned and callused is now renewed and refreshed. We have been given a heart of gratitude and not a spirit of fear.
What would have happened to the Israelites if they had given up hope because they just couldn’t seem to get it right? I believe that God is molding you and me right now. At this moment, there are things that you and I don’t even realize that are problems. We only know in part and we can only fix the part that we know with His help. What is your choice? Will you fold under pressure or will you “having done all…stand”?
No comments:
Post a Comment