“My brethren, count it all joy when
you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1: 2-4.
I read this over the weekend and verse 3 and 4
stood out. “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But
let patience have it’s perfect work…”
stood out. “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But
let patience have it’s perfect work…”
The
tests have come. Some days it seems like more than I can handle (seems is the
key word). I’ve held on to faith in what I know is true. But have I been
letting patience have its perfect work? Am I truly being changed? I’m still pondering that one.
tests have come. Some days it seems like more than I can handle (seems is the
key word). I’ve held on to faith in what I know is true. But have I been
letting patience have its perfect work? Am I truly being changed? I’m still pondering that one.
What
about you?
about you?
I think I struggle with: Count it all joy. When I walk through trials there is usually plenty of whining and complaining involved. I need to focus on counting even my struggles as joy.
I know! I can relate. 🙂
Patience….sigh. It can be frustrating to develop it, huh? The past 7 years have been a long road of patience for me. I am to the point now where I can rest in God's peace, knowing that He has the best intentions for me, no matter what. I can go with the flow…wherever that may lead. Not that it is easy, but I am learning.
I love your heart!
It can be frustrating. I think sometimes I'm enjoying–letting it work itself out and sometimes I'm enduring. Always learning though.
If I get to let it work its "perfect work" in me on the end of that dock in your pic, well then, I am all good!:) Patience is one of the things I struggle with to. I'm either all there, or I'm fighting it–there doesn't seem to be an in between for me on this one. But I refuse to give up!
Isn't that picture awesome! I'll sit there with you. It'll be fun. 🙂
Patience. Eek. Yeah.
You known what I really love about that verse? The "lacking nothing" part. When I'm seriously steeped in joy and patience, I really do "lack nothing." I mean, really. But the key is letting patience, like the verse says, have its perfect work.
Thanks for jump-starting my heart and mind this morning, Jess!
So true, Tagg. I find the exact same thing to be true in my life. I guess that's why I said, "So true." lol
I fight this one hard. I swear God and I encounter regular wrestling matches. Just call me Jacob.
Holding out for the blessing,
Wendy
You make me smile. Oh, I think God and I have went a few rounds. He always wins! 🙂
Patience is not one of my strengths. Have you ever found when you pray for patience, your life gets more challenging…LOL! Great Post.
I know! I like to preface that prayer with, "Go easy, God. Seriously." 🙂
The older I get (and I'm getting up there =), the more I realize how much I learn as a result of the tough times I endure. The Lord isn't content to let me stay in my comfy spot all the time. He uses adversity and disappointments to shape me into the person He wants me to be.
Keli, you are right about that. He never lets us get too comfy. And you're probably in better shape than most twenty-somethings I know! 😉
Love Wendy's "wrestling matches" comment. Girl, you and me both.
Patience takes so LONG to develop…sometimes it seems you're PAST the end of your rope with waiting! So hard not to give up hope.
But in the end, you just have to keep moving forward, or you start to die. Moving forward means throwing the situation into God's hands, while not stagnating in the meantime! That's where I am in this process.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick. But when fulfillment comes, it's sweet to the marrow!
Upward and Onward! (Did that sound Viking-ish?) 🙂
In many ways, patience is equated with trust. Are we willing to wait on God and His blessings, to see how He'll use those trials in our lives? If not, maybe we aren't trusting Him enough.
I'm not good at this, but as I'm learning more and more…I don't have to be. God can change me. I don't have to "fall back on" my old ways and the things about myself I don't like.
That's something I'm willing to wait on.
Patience and trust most definitely hold hands. But I think we can trust God and not be patient.
Kind of like when my husband says he'll pick me up at 5. At 5:15 I don't see him, but I trust him to know he'll be there. Now, I can't say I don't stew and pace while waiting. 🙂
Although God never gives us a time and then is late. But you get my point. I do think you're right, sometimes not having patience can equal lack of trust. And you seem to be learning beautifully, friend! 🙂
The Message says, "You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors." So true! It's only through trials that what we really believe comes out and is tested. It's hard to remember at times, but worth it.
I love that!!! So true. They are worth it!
Paul has much the same message in the beginning verses of Romans 5. Once we obtain a measure of maturity (and I don't think any of us can claim to be really mature) we realize that it's the rough spots, the trials, that hone and build our character and lead us toward more maturity.
Thanks, Jessica.
I'll try your kapchka, or whatever it's called, but I hate them.
Amen, David!
I'm not sure what kapchka is, is it word verification? I didn't realize I had mine on. I switched it off. Hope I don't get tons of spam now! lol
For me, it means that God is using trials and tests to refine me. To teach me patience. That's the only way that I am going to learn to wait on Him. It seems slow, like nothing is happening, and it hurts, but one day I'll look back and realize how much God has worked in my life.
I agree, Brandi! I accidentally tacked an "e" on your name and had to delete it! 🙂
Great gravy, that verse makes me cringe! Patience is NEVER easily won. Then I gotta add joy? Are you kidding? LOL The end results are always worth it though. The lessons hardest learned are always the ones that stick best.
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