Devotional Christian » trials

Characteristics from Trials – Maturity

Matthew Fry — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:13:53 +0000

“4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:4

I work with the middle and high school students at my church and we recently had our transition night for the new 6th graders to come checkout our ministry. It is a big transition for them from our children’s ministry to middle school ministry. They no longer have to have a parent sign them in and get a sticker to put on their shirt. It is always interesting to see the reactions to this transition of not only the students, but the parents as well.

Many parents are uncomfortable with their student having the freedom to not need them to sign them in. When we have our first parent meetings there are always a group of new sixth grade parents that stay after and ask tons of questions. It is always comical too when our next sixth grade students go on their first overnight trip with us. You would think it was as if their parents were shipping them off to boot camp, but it is usually less than 30 hours that they are away.

After spending three years in our student ministry it is sad to see our students leave, but the difference between when they entered and when they left is night and day. They come in as kids who laugh at the idea of talking about sex and dating and leave as young men and women who know God. We graduated a couple of girls this year who found answered God’s calling to start an organization called “Birds of Hope” that raises money for clean water in Zambia. They sew small birds out of fabric and sell them for $5 each. In less than a year they have raise $20,000 to help Active Water’s efforts to provide water for the people of Zambia. If you feel compelled to buy a bird I want to let you know that 100% of every dollar goes towards providing clean water to Zambia. These girls don’t keep a penny for themselves.

These girls have matured their the trials of their lives. Where their faith was tested and they persevered through the test. In their persevering they found God. They found that God calls us to love others by using the talents that He has blessed us with.

James 1:4 states that perseverance causes us to mature and be complete. To be complete and not lacking anything. It doesn’t mean that to be mature means you have to make a $100,000 salary. It doesn’t mean you have to be debt free. It doesn’t mean you have to have the latest electronic. To be complete you love God, and that because you love God, you love others.

Characteristics from Trials

Matthew Fry — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:00:48 +0000

“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” – James 1:2

It is how we react to the trials of our lives that shapes who we become as individuals. Everyone comes from different circumstances and experiences. Some of you may have grown up in an affluent family. Others of you may have been raised in a single family household. The amount of possibilities of the circumstances and experiences that could be experienced by all that read this post are as numerous as the stars in the night sky.

The characteristics that we get from these trials are not necessarily from the trials, but from how we react to the trials. Those who struggle with an addiction may turn to their addiction when things get rough. Those who find themselves in a tough situation may find a way to cheat to get ahead.

Who you are now is a result of your reaction during the trials of your life.

This is the first devotional in a series of devotionals that will look at the impact 1 John 1:2-8 has on our lives and the characteristics that we gain when we go through them.

When God Seems Far Away

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:30:41 +0000

Why me? Why this? Do you ever wonder why? Do you feel guilty for even daring to ask? I have. I’ve had times when the loss was so great in my life that I cried, not upon my pillow in a quiet voice in the silence of my darkened bedroom. No. I’ve screamed it with all the angst and heartache and brokenness my voice could muster in the public streets for all the world to see. At times, my why was resolved with the still small voice of God and a touch of warmth from the Comforter pouring Himself out upon me. Other times, I’ve felt alone, abandoned.

The psalmist did the same. Prophets have cried out. Kings. Our Lord cried out on the cross.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. BUT You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:1-3. [caps and emphasis mine]

It’s odd that we, who think our God does not hear us in the darkness of our nights and the bright light of our grief and pain, continue to cry out. If it were so futile, if God was so deaf, if God was so far away, why would we bother? Because deep in the recesses of our tribulation, emptiness and agony, we know that God is God and God is steadfast and sure. We may question our circumstances, our losses, our trials–but we know that ultimately our answers are in God. And we cry out in search of them. We may not feel our God hears, but all scripture denounces that lie of Satan. We may not think God is present, but Jesus, our King, says differently. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the world.”

With every “why” I’ve ever voiced, my God’s assurance has answered. With every darkness I’ve ever encountered, God pierces with Light and gives me faith to dispel the doubts of my human fraility. So when you wonder why, remember we may never know all the answers. We have the Answer–Jesus is Lord of all and has overcome the world.

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