OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 36-37
POETRY: Song of Songs 8
*NEW TESTAMENT: James 1:1-18
Do you feel joy when you go through trials/temptations? I would guess not as it is opposed to our natural inclinations.
But when we go through hard times, we can come out on the other side stronger.
Have you heard Christians say that God won’t give us anything beyond what we can handle? That is a perversion of the truth.
We weren’t created to be able to handle this life on our own. We were made with a need for God. The trouble comes when we recognize our need for something beyond ourselves but turn to something or someone besides God and become dependent on that. That is when idols are created.
God won’t put things in our life that can’t be handled with His help. But there likely will be things in your life that you can’t handle on your own. That is your reminder, if you aren’t already, to depend on God.
1 Corinthians 10:13 is where people get the wrong idea. But they just read part of it. They read “he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” The verse continues though to say “But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” He will provide a way!
When we try to do things on our own, we can quickly become prideful – thinking we are great, or, become depressed because we can’t do what we tried to.
We can come out of the other side of trials and temptations with a stronger faith if we leaned into God during this time. It should allow us to become more mature in our faith and deepen our relationship with God.
~Stephanie Fletcher
Reflection Questions
- What is a past trial you have gone through with God’s help? How did He help you? How did your perseverance grow during this experience? How did you mature through the process? What joys can you take away from that past trial?
- What joy can you find in your present trial?
- Consider some of the Christians that you most look up to. Have you ever met a really strong Christian who has had a really “easy” life?
- What will you say the next time you hear someone say, “God won’t give us anything beyond what we can handle?”
Seek Grow Love 