Day 19 Trials

Trials are an opportunity to prove the faithfulness of God in our lives.  Cancer has been the hardest thing I've had to face in my life.  I've heard it said that God won't give us more than we can handle.  I don't believe this anymore.  I think He gives us more so that we can reflect Him and His power to others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.

Ephesians 3:20 To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us.

This gives us the opportunity to share with others the power given to us by Christ.  It doesn't make sense to those of the world.  A believer has the ability to rise above their cicumstances and even display joy and peace.  This is only possible when an investment in the Kingdom has been made.  By this I am reffering to spending time in the Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be a like tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season.  Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."   

Picture the tree, standing tall next to the river.  It's roots go down deep, tapping into a vast water resource for nourishment.  When the wind blows it is not moved.  When storms pass by it's leaves do not wither.  In the right season it bears fruit.  This is a picture of a believer.  During the good and bad times growth is going on beneath the surface.  The roots of a believer are sinking deeper into the Word.  The Living Water quenches all thirst. Now the storm begins.  The believer is unmoved and stands strong.  More amazing than just being able to stand is the demeanor of the believer.  They have an unexplainable joy lifting them above circumstances.    This joy is a fruit. This peace is a fruit.

Good berean's know all about God's character and are able to let His overwhelming glory override the pain of their circumstances.  True happiness is controlled by your allegiance.  Having an allegiance to Christ gives you the golden ticket to true happiness despite the presence or absence of storms in your life.