Daily Prayer - School of Disappointment ...

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Are you in the midst of a difficult situation and feel that God just isn't there for you?  Do you feel He is punishing you? Do you feel your faith is being tested? 

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 (James 1:2-3)

If you are not there now, you likely have been in the past and will be in the future.  James doesn't say "if you face trials" - it isn't optional. And God is not punishing you - He is building perseverance.

It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans, and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe, much less happy, but in proportion as we are weaned from our own wills, and made simply desirous of being directed by His guidance. This truth (when we are enlightened by His Word) is sufficiently familiar to the judgment; but we seldom learn to reduce it to practice, without being trained awhile in the school of disappointment.  John Newton (author of Amazing Grace), August 17, 1767

Are you enrolled in "the school of disappointment"?  Are you paying attention to the lessons being taught?  Cause even though we are to "consider it pure joy" I don't think you want to repeat this class!

A note on the "pure joy" thing - we are not asked to "feel" it as joy, but to "consider" it as joy, which means we choose to see it that way, much like we might choose to love an unloveable person.  It is a decision, not a feeling.

And James' exhortation is not an isolated one:

 "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3).

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1)

"If we endure, we will also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12).

"Endure hardship" (2 Timothy 4;5).

"…we ourselves speak proudly of you… for your perseverance in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions that you endure" (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

Grace and peace (and trials) be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Father, help us to contend with those obstacles that are a part of our strict training so that we will receive an everlasting crown. 

Help us to patiently endure and prayerfully endear the important truths You teach us in our spiritual training.

We want to hold on to Your unchanging hand as we build our lives not on the shifting sands of time, but on that which will never perish!

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/a-prayer-for-perseverance-8/)