James 1:2-3 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.
There are two types of tests. Those that we place upon ourselves, when examining and searching our hearts, and those that are placed upon us through chance and happenings. Every test of our faith to Yahweh serves a purpose. In producing endurance and character and maturity and completeness.
There’s a common saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and I have found it often to be very true. It does take strength as well as determination to get through the various trials and tribulations. And when the decks seems stacked against you it takes a strict resoluteness of faith and trust in our loving Mother that in the end all will be well and there is specific purpose behind all that we experience in both the good, and the bad.
As Job said, “The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away”. Isn’t it always the easiest to be faithful and obedient when everything is going our way? And isn’t it also more difficult when we pass through difficult times? But what would we learn and how would we grow if all our times were easy ones?
And when our times are hard ones, it would be very easy to feel deflated, defeated and mournful over the things we experience. But how much more uplifting is it to see things in a different light? Not that everything bad is happening to you, but instead, that these tests of faith will make you stronger and not just in one way but in many ways.
When you run your first mile, does it not seem at the time very hard? And when you run your second and your third, does it not get easier? And then you look back on the first mile you ran and think to yourself, “Gee, that was nothing and look how far I’ve come.”
Yahweh is always helping us to grow and to learn via our experiences. To help us to see and understand Her way of thinking and be in union with Her and in Her will and in harmony with one another. And we must always, always remember Her deep love for Her creation and all of us regardless of any situation we might find ourselves in.
We have the choice of standing before the tallest mountain and being told we must climb it and saying to ourselves, “It’s too big, I can’t.” or, “It’s big, but with Father’s help I can.” And while Father may not carry you up that mountain, She will provide all the things that you need to make it to the top. The tools and equipment necessary for survival as well as the provisions that will keep you safe from harm. From there it’s up to each of us to take the first step.
All it takes is a different perspective and one day, we will all be able to look back and see how far we’ve come, and how much closer to Yahweh we are. If only we stand the test of faith.