“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, NKJV.
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” James 1:2-4, The Message.
Yes, if we get everything on a platter we do not realise the true value of things. It’s only when we go through difficulties and trials that we come out stronger and purer, we cherish and value things and happiness and gratitude to God flows naturally from the heart.
“Trials can either make us or break us”. If we truly understand that God is our loving Father and Mother and so however big the trial, He is always by our side, comforting us, protecting us and guiding us towards a victory. “Trials are proofs of God’s care and they never leave us where they found us”. We can only grow stronger, better, holier, and happier from our trials. Our virtues get polished and shine resplendently.
In Hymn No. 148 it’s mentioned ” The storm may roar without me, My heart may low be laid; But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed. Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen; Bright skies will soon be over me where darkest clouds have been. My hope I cannot measure, My path in life is free; My Father has my treasure, And He will walk with me.”
Thank you Evan, and Nergish! I love the excerpt that you added from Hymn No. 148. We never have to be dismayed when life’s looming catastrophic storms seemingly surround me with no way out, because God is ALWAYS behind, beside, in front, and inside us, protecting us and patiently waiting for us to listen to his instructions to guide us to a safe haven.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”, and “The word ‘triumph’ starts with ‘try’!”
Thank you very much, Evan for today`s for me comforting verses from James! Patience is very desirable and advisable which leads us into all Truth and therewith to the desired healing and uplifting.
And thank you Nergish for your inspiring comment which is also very helpful!
What a wonderful Hymn No. 148 making my day bright. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder. I particularly like the second translation.
yes I do too, and I just ordered The Message of the New Testament via Ebay. I also bought the NLT via Ebay.
What a joy it is to get to know our Father-Mother better. To trust and feel comforted, supported. A quote from an old online CS lecture comes to mind: “our God is so kind and true, so loving and just, I will know what to do and do it at the right time.”
Thanks for sharing this quote. (=
Thank you, Evan, and all! What a wonderful uplift ! So pertinent to my new position at my job. As I face this new morning, I will walk with love along the way… and try try triumph! I realize that God will lead me every step of the way! Thank you all for your loving insight putting everything into the right perspective. Much Love and joy today!
Thank you so much Evan for this inspiration. Blessings and joy to all today.
In an earlier post, I commented that Mrs. Eddy says we learn through suffering. Christian Science is not painless–if the pain helps us realize and get rid of our sin. Christian Science isn’t a fluffy, “God loves you, do your own thing, no worries” type of spirituality. These verses affirm that spiritual growth can involve struggle and hardship. We are not to fear “wholesome chastisements.” God doesn’t cause pain, but we experience pain when we go against His will. Healing is a return to God–and the pain stops! 🙂
Definitely learning what above writer is discussing! Patience during tribulations and persecution and betrayal. Helps me grow, though, and grateful for Her protection through it all. Thanks to all above and for good reminder that we grow during and through the other side of human trials.
This is so appropriate and welcome. Don’t give in-Triumph. Mortal mind kept trying to tell me that I had not trained for walking the Camino and couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t listen and kept holding to spiritual Truth. The Camino means the way. I sang I Walk With Love Along The Way in my head over and over. It was so perfect. I walked with the intention of a Pilgrim and had wonderful insights. My body would be screaming at me and I would refute it, ask what I needed to know, express gratitude and willingness to know and the pain would dissolve. All of my 5 pilgrimage mates were relying on material remedies, getting blisters, leg cramps, etc. and using tape. I was praying to know that what was true for me was true for them, but at this time they didn’t see any other way than the material one. I refused the material remedies and walked into Santiago de Compostella with them with no blisters or need for remedies. However, I was/am very tired. I am so grateful for CS and the teachings of MBE and your prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks so much for the update! We knew you could do it with God at your side! (=
Thank you so much for this thought for today. Mortal mind would as a last resort try to tell one that, “I’m tired of fighting this …..” or “Trying to rise above it.” Might be first thoughts with this is too big for me to get around. Just junk thoughts to throw one off track. I am learning to turn away from those erroneous thoughts, throw them out of my thinking, and get some good, true statements from S & H or a periodical to hold on to.
Thank you for the update Theodora! I read your original post and knew that you were walking in the strength of Spirit! We know that we can do all things thru Christ, who strengthens us. We can be refreshed with God’s ever new, never failing Love every minute, every hour of each day. (Working on that myself. Lol)
What a great way to look at tough challenges. Wonderful, thank you!
Excellent Evan, just excellent! Thank you Evan! This part of The Message quoted in your blog is so helpful…”So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work…” Sometimes I just want the physical healing to come as soon as possible, but I need to be patient, whatever time it takes, to reach higher and grow spiritually, until my nature is transformed. Awesome!
Wonderful to all!!!
this speaks very clearly to me. Long ago I began to learn that I do not suffer from the Truth but from holding on to the false sense. It was a time when what I was learning so disturbed the status quo in my life I was questioning all of it.
I have been dealing with something for some time that I know is necessary to learn from for spiritual growth. Yesterday, as I was preparing to leave for a long drive to work the room started spinning. I tried to resist trying to figure out what was happening and just declare the truth. Some of the phrases that came out of my mouth I had never said before but I kept digging deep to counter the false sense, telling me I can’t drive right now. I had a cd of a Daniel Jensen talk and I put it on as I drove. As always with wonderful stuff, I hear new things I hadn’t heard before. I got to work and kept focusing on the truth. My day was long and I kept trying not to cater to my symptoms but keep focusing on the Truth. I drove home in hurricane like conditions at 9 pm which seemed like nothing compared to my morning.. Phew! what a day but all is well