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getting through the pain

Life has it's pain.  We have all been through times.  This past Sunday I shared a message with our church family about how we look at the trouble that comes our way.  How we deal with these struggles speaks directly to our faith or our lack of faith.

James 1:2-4 (NLT) --- Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

All of us deal with trouble in our lives, and one of the things that we just don't get, don't understand is the issue of SUFFERING.  When suffering comes, there are many things we can do, ways we can turn and even life we can gain or lose.


What do you do with suffering?  Does suffering stop you in your tracks or in your faith?  Or, does suffering strengthen you and give you perspective and drive you on?  One of those is true for you.


We can go around to different people and talk about suffering.  The stories would shock us and teach us.  You have been through some difficult and even unfair times.  Lets spend some time getting stronger and gaining momentum for what God has in our lives.


Take what God says and put it in place.  Who do we believe?  Are we preparing for the difficulties that will come our way?  Some we will be and some we won't.  That is why the Bible has to have a place in our lives.  God wants to interact with us, prepare us, shape and share His heart with us.  What are we going to do with our struggles and our suffering?  

Often what makes us unstable is our doubting.  When we doubt what God can or will do, we are in trouble.  Face your struggles head on.  Getting through the pain is not easy, but God gives us perspective.  Ask God wisdom you nee, and believe what God says.  Honestly, getting through the pain is one thing God wants to do for each of us.

James 1:5-8 (NKJV) --- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Comments

Scott Couchenour said…
Michael - Great post, man! I've been thinking about this passage in James today. Your added perspective and insight is perfect timing.

My tendency is to rush to comfort in a trial. But God tells me to let the trial do its work and not rush out from under it. Wow. That's hard to do. But God is faithful, isn't he?
July 29, 2010 at 6:21:00 PM EDT
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