James 1:1 & 12 –
(1)Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy…. (12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Easy to say, but hard to live by. It seems appropriate advice to give someone the THEIR world is crashing down. But how do we respond when it is OUR world? Looking back on some of the horrible things you may have experienced, do you see a better outcome because of your response to the challenge ?
That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.- Friedrich Nietzsche
Look at some of our more notable citizens. As a cyclist, I first think of Lance Armstrong. He was “dead” as far as the medical profession was concerned. Should he survive he would never ride again. We all witnessed his spectacular achievements.
Look at the Apostle Paul. He had a great life until he decided to follow Jesus (not to discourage you, but at that time it was a bit more dangerous than today). As you look at his life through all of the trials he endured, he remained faithful to the end. And we have been blessed by all that contributed to the New Testament. Life can seem like a roller coaster ride. Make sure that you remember that feeling of cresting the top when you climb up from those “down” times. Realize that God told us life would be like this!
Proverbs 17:27 – “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.” …