Well its been 5 years since I wrote a blog post. I originally started to blog (while I stayed home with the girls) as an outlet for me. I love reading blogs and so it was a way for me to also get my thoughts and record life as we knew it. Also, my family was able to keep up a little bit with all that was going on in our lives. Once I got into working, it stopped becoming a priority and just fell off my radar.
But since the world is in a pandemic right now and life is so different, I have some time at home where I thought I would start up again (at least while we are quarantined in the house). Life has changed a whole lot in the last 5 years. We have moved a couple of times, Lucas was born and is 4 years old, I started working for the church full time in Kids ministry, and Jonny has changed jobs (these are just a some of the changes). And Now the world is going through something like never before. So for my first post back I thought I would write what I studied this morning with the Lord. I have been kind of everywhere in the Bible lately. A lot in Psalms, Joshua, Matthew and James. Although, I am enjoying a slower pace and being home with my family- there is so much uncertainty, anxiety, suffering, and pain in the world right now. So much is not known. So here is just some encouragement I found from James this morning.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings.”
Psalms 84:5-6
James 1- trials, suffering and how we are to count it all as joy. (Verse 2). Pain gives us perspective and produces endurance (verse 3). God gives us wisdom and uses pain/suffering to make us complete. More like Him. We must ask in faith and humble ourselves. We struggle through it but we come to God asking Him to take away our doubt and unbelief. Trusting He who began a good work will finish it in us. (Verses 4-8). Pain Cause us to loosen our hold on things that don’t last. Causes us to fix our eyes on Jesus and lift our gaze to Him. (Verses 9-11).
Jesus Christ lived the perfect life. Died a brutal death. And defeated death 3 days later! God uses pain for His purposes. He calls us to praise Him even in the struggle because He is producing something good in us. Everyday (if we let it) pain is teaching us to be more like Him. So we rejoice!
