What Has God Taught You Today?
These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. -- 1 Peter 1:7
Some days you just wish God wouldn’t feel the need to test you. Some days you’d just like things to go smooth and easy. Some days you just want to make it through because you know tomorrow has just got to be a better day.
Probably everyone knows what I’m talking about. We’ve all had days like that. I one time sat for hours in a hot car with two dogs in the back seat because my car decided to die on the wrong side of the interstate. No one could find me in rush hour. Go figure. That’s a day I’d rather not ever repeat. But, you know, I have a lot more sympathy for people who are having car trouble now. I may not stop and help strangers but I do try to always say a prayer for them. I didn’t do that before.
A great many people have no doubt learned a few things during this economic downturn our country continues, to endure. Some have learned that hard-working people can’t always find a job. They’ve learned that honest and decent people sometimes lose their homes, cars and dignity through no fault of their own. They’ve learned that downward spirals can happen to anyone. Maybe they’ll remember to have empathy, compassion and lend a helping hand when they get on their financial feet again.
That’s the thing about lessons from God. He always uses the bad and the ugly to turn us into better people. God can turn even the worst things into good, if we’ll only let Him. No. God doesn’t want bad to happen to us. But He does sometimes allow it. Our promise is that we’ll never suffer anything we can’t endure with His help.
It’s something I’ve really thought about recently as a friend recovers from a serious motorcycle accident. God’s hand is everywhere during this awful time, bringing blessings and healing from something that could have been so much worse. His Presence has carried us through and will, without a doubt, continue to do so during her long recovery.
Peter tells us that our faith is more precious to God than gold. We are more precious to God. He wants us to know how much He loves us. God wants us to depend on Him, to learn from Him, to grow in faith and inner strength.
So what has God taught you recently? It kind of puts a different perspective on hard days and tough times, doesn’t it?
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