hardship Archives - Daily Thoughts about God

“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 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.” James 1:1-4

When people confide to me that they are praying for patience, I often ask what else they’re doing to acquire a calm and gentle heart. Patience isn’t so much something believers receive as it is an attribute that they develop over time and through experience.

Think of patience as a muscle that you have to use in order to see it build. To that end, believers should recognize difficulty as an opportunity to flex their patience. The human instinct is to cry out to God in bewilderment when tribulation comes knocking. We blame. We resist. We complain. What we don’t do is say, “Thank You, Father–it’s time to grow in patience!” People aren’t trained to think that way, but according to the Bible, that is exactly how Christians are to respond.

James tells us to consider trials a joy (1:2). But we often fail at this, don’t we? Humanly speaking, praising the Lord for tribulation is unnatural. However, doing so begins to make sense to believers when they cling to God’s promise that good comes from hardship (Romans 8:28). We are not waiting on the Lord in vain. We can praise Him for the solution He will bring, the lives He will change, or the spiritual fruit He will develop in us.

Accepting hardship as a means of growth is a radical concept in this world. Even more extreme is the believer who praises the Lord for the storm. But God’s followers have cause to rejoice. Tribulation increases our patience so that we can stand firm on His promises and await His good timing.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by permission
http://www.intouch.org/

Experiencing hardship is never easy. In fact, it can be downright agonizing, exhausting, and depressing.

There have been moments in my life where I have instantly sensed God’s awesome presence with me during a difficult circumstance. But there have been even more instances when it seemed as though God was nowhere to be found.

While Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane awaiting His fate, His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground as He prayed. He knew that what He was about to endure was going to be excruciatingly difficult (Luke 22:44). He didn’t even hesitate to ask God if He could be spared from the suffering.

Jesus felt utterly alone. Even His friends had fallen asleep during the most crucial moment in his life.

No one enjoys going through trials, especially feeling alone in them. But in these moments, God asks us to trust Him.

Not only did Jesus ask if His cup of suffering could pass, but He prayed for strength and embraced the will of His heavenly Father who gave Him the power to endure. As Hebrews 12:2 says, He endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

Hard times will pass. But with patience, prayer, and a heart full of hope and trust, we can live through them, knowing God can give us a deep joy that will outlast any pain and sorrow.

Thank You, heavenly Father, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to comfort me during this difficult time in my life. I ask for Your strength to empower me, and for hope to fill my heart. May I walk through this situation trusting You and believing that You have something good in store for me and those around me. I open my heart to Your will and Your way in my life. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by permission

Developing Patience

FURTHER READING

The Power to Endure

Experiencing hardship is never easy. In fact, it can be downright agonizing, exhausting, and depressing.

Further Reading

Tag: <span>hardship</span>

Developing Patience

FURTHER READING

The Power to Endure

Experiencing hardship is never easy. In fact, it can be downright agonizing, exhausting, and depressing.

Further Reading