Do you find yourself in a challenging situation? Frustrated with your job? Your ministry? Your boss? There’s hope!
This morning I was reminded of an old Country Western song about a father who named his son Sue. His son grew up without his father and hated him for the name his father had given him. One day, he had the opportunity to face his father who so many years ago had abandoned him.
The lad was obviously angry, and when he confronted his father about his name, his father responded with a surprising answer. He told his son that he knew he wasn’t going to be there for him and that he would need a way to make sure his son gained an inner-strength to stand strong in a difficult world.
While this makes for an entertaining song the premise comes straight out of the Bible. God knows us, and He knows that we need times of tribulation to help us develop and grow in our path to sanctification. James, chapter 1 says, “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” When we look at the book of Job we see trials and tribulations for sure. Over and over in scripture we see that sometimes we have to survive the fire to become tempered and strengthened.
Often times we find ourselves in a difficult situation or become unhappy with our life. Our first reaction is to think “God doesn’t want this for me” and we try to get out of it. However, many times God places us in the fire for a specific reason, and sometimes He wants us there for longer than we would like.
If you find yourself in a situation you wish you could get out of, I urge you to pause, pray and wait. Make sure God is truly moving you before you take up camp and leave – there might be a real blessing waiting for you at the end of the trial!
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