JOURNAL/TRIALS-AFFLICTIONS-DIFFICLTIES

JOURNAL/TRIALS-AFFLICTIONS-DIFFICULTIES




“The EYES of the Lord are upon
Those who fear him
Upon those
Who HOPE for his KINDNESS


To deliver them from death
And PRESERVE them
In spite of famine” Psalm 33:18-19




OUR LIVES bring us much JOY-but they also bring CHALLENGES-AT those times-at ALL times-we NEED GOD'S HELP-The GOOD NEWS is that God wants to GIVE IT


LOOK BACK at your past-AT HOW GOD has helped you previously in the storms of your life-IF GOD has PRESERVED you in the past-won't he CONTINUE to be your life line now and in the FUTURE


It is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a GREAT DAY to TRUST GOD during the storms of your life






















TRIALS-AFFLICTIONS-DIFFICULTIES




Do you have trials-afflictions-
And difficulties
In your life


Have you ever


IF you answer no
To both questions
GOD BLESS YOU
Because
You are not human


EVEN Jesus did


Another word
For these words is tribulation
And tribulation
IS trouble in one's life
Often associated with great afflictions


Saint James-Jesus' ½ brother
Once wrote,


“Consider it ALL JOY
My brothers
When you encounter various trials........” James 1:2


We probably hate to admit it
But TRIALS can be GOOD for us
Because they can bring MATURITY
DEVELOP character
And IF we take on our crosses
As Jesus did
They can bring us GREAT JOY


It all goes to our mind set
TRIALS can make us or break us
It all depends
On the ATTITUDE we face them with


We should become
An EXAMPLE to others
Like Jesus


You are probably saying,
“Bob/Robert are you nuts
How can trials and afflictions
Be good for us?”


“It was good for me
To be afflicted
So that I might learn
Your decrees” Psalm 119:71


First of all
They can remind us
Of our human limits


Sometimes
The MIRACLES of our life
DEPEND on God's power
NOT on our own


John 4
Tells us about the HEALING
Of an official's son


Jesus says,


“UNLESS you people see miraculous signs
And works
You will NEVER believe” John 4:48


“The royal official said,
'Sir, come down,
Before my child dies'” John 4:49


“Jesus replied,
'You may go
Your son will live'” John 4:50


The power of faith
The power of belief
COMES FIRST
Then comes THE HEALING


Put your TRUST in God


Secondly-afflictions can develop virtues
In us


VIRTUES like humility-patience-understanding
Wisdom-and compassion


And these virtues
Can lead to
Human and spiritual maturity


But if we
Let our afflictions break us
This can lead to qualities
Like meanness-pettiness-and selfishness


WHICH PERSON
Are you
Going to choose to be


So I ask you
What kind of trials
Are you experiencing
In your life-right now


And what kind of person
Are they turning you into


Dear Lord-we pray
That you USE our trials
In life
To HELP us become
MORE AND MORE like you


And BECOME
A shining example to ALL


Robert P. Wallman
2-17-14




ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Melanie Svoboda








10-23-14