It has been brought to my attention this week about how we are truly blessed. I spend so much time complaining about what I can't eat when there are millions around the world who are starving to death. Shame on me for not caring more. The only difference between them and me is that God chose for me to be here, to have this family, these parents. Some may say that we were lucky to be born here but luck has nothing to do with it. It was by the grace of God. I need to stop complaining about the fact that it is unfair that so and so can eat anything they want and not gain weight or when so and so walks just 30 minutes a day she loses weight easily, I could go on and on.
James 1:2-8 (HCS) "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, but endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways."
We aren't to whine and complain. We are to be thankful that God gave us this trial and to overcome it. We may have put ourselves in a worse way with uncontrolled eating but we would have had to watch our eating habits our whole lives because our bodies don't work the same as someone who is thin and can eat whatever they want. I really hesitate to call this a "trial" because of what so many have faced. Verse 3 goes on to tell us "that the trying of your faith worketh patience". Dr McGee says God doesn't bring challenges in our lives because He loves to watch us struggle. He does it to grow our faith, to make us stronger to give us patience. As a parent we give chores to our kids because we like to see them complain, cry and throw fits, right? No! It is to teach them skills and responsibilities that they will need later on in life to live as mature adults. This is the same concept. God wants us to mature as believers to live in such a way that we are a testimony to the unbelievers in our lives. So that they can see Jesus through our submission to God.
I Peter 1:6&7 "You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Our trials will last for but a season. We get so caught up in the world that we forget it is but a season compared to eternity. So, we may deal with certain trials our whole lives, it may be our weight, an illness, a disability or a personality conflict with a family member. However, even if it lasts our entire lifetime it will still just be a season of our life. Let us find joy when we walk away from foods we aren't to eat, find joy when God gives us victory on the scale. As we celebrate Easter and reflect on the suffering our Lord and Saviour endured for our salvation; take time to thank Him for this selfless act this week. Pray for an opportunity to share with an unbelieving friend or relative what God is teaching you through the trials you are facing now in this season of your life.
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