Trials and Temptations from James Chapter 1
“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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
Since I started this prayer group… I have been so amazed by the people that are willing to pray for our little girl and our family. I have also been lifted up by scriptures and encouragement you all have shared, messaged me or posted on here. God’s word is so comforting! And I appreciate the phone calls… I just missed one from a dear friend (because my phone was out in the car). But the voicemail was sweet to hear. Thank you all!
Yesterday, I received an a message from a good friend who is no stranger to trials and to loss. She shared with me something that God has done in her through a recent loss she has experienced….
She was quoting to me out the book “Jesus Calling”. First of all, this is a must have book if you don’t have it. I read through it faithfully about two years ago… but have not since.
Anyways, my friend was encouraging me, just as she has had to encourage herself to take delight in trials. She wrote…
“I got the Jesus Calling devo for Christmas and have read it a couple of days. And one day just hit me hard. I am to be thankful for the situation God has put me in. He has chosen a path for me and I need to thank Him. He has chosen you, Kelly, to go through this trial. He considers you worthy. I pray you will stay strong and lean on Him. But, it is hard. Your heart and home are ready, but God continues to ask you to wait until His timing is perfect.”
So yesterday I challenged myself to “Consider it pure joy” in what we are going through right now. And today has been a good day. I have changed my prayers from… Please fix this now… God, why? … You called us to do this, why would this happen?… Help us!
To… Thank you God for what we are going through right now. Teach me what I need to learn. Change me to be more like you. May you be glorified and not my problems.
This attitude change in my heart has made today so much better.
Who knows…I may slip up and fall back in my faith again tomorrow… But I am striving to consider this PURE JOY!
Today, please pray for our daughter’s health. She has a heart defect. She has a severe heart murmur that requires surgery to be fixed. I have not had any updates as to her well being lately. So, I ask that you please pray with us that she is receiving the nutrition and the services she needs to have a decent toddler-hood. I do know the older she gets the harder her heart will be on her body, which will then cause everything else to delay as well. But, we know the GREAT PHYSICIAN!