The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; Psalm 34:18-19 NIV There are so many who are experiencing afflictions in some way, shape or form. The majority of our ministry team is going through various hardships, myself included. My heart has indeed been broken, but I take comfort in knowing that the Lord is always close and He will deliver me from the heaviness of heart that set in after loosing a friend to the darkness of depression. My delight comes as I am reminded through the book of James to consider it pure joy when our faith is tested by the various trials we will encounter in this life. Through the moments of agony God surely births something new and good. Our spiritual muscles take a hit by the pain produced as the repairing and rebuilding of stronger muscle begins. If we can persevere, a new level of spiritual maturity occurs. Like physical exercise, it is never easy, we do not look forward to it, but when we press on through holding tight to the promises of God something good will prevail. The following verses speak to me. I leave you to ponder them. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:2-5 "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"— the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 1 Corinthians 9-13 |
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