Inter-Ballistic Missiles And Trials

James 1:2-4

“Consider is a joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (see also 1 Peter 1:6-7 and Colossians 4:12)

Perfect – mature, finished results, completed.

Endurance – steadfastness, patience, enduring, waiting.

Trials – temptations, afflictions, trouble.

Result – work, labor, deed, undertaking.

Joy – gladness, joyful.

I'm very blessed, even in the deepest trails that threaten to overwhelm me and seem impossible. NOTHING is impossible for You, my King. (Matt 19:26)

I can walk, crawl, or just be on my knees, praising You no matter my outside OR inside turmoil. You are there. (Rom 8:35-39)

There are times that it seems that You're not there. I can look back and see when I thought You'd stepped back. During the last week of my Dads life, I remembering praying with great passion for him to be okay. For him to meet his grand-baby growing within me. I also didn't want to lose him, because I was/am a Daddy's girl...I'd finally tasted the pure joy of having a wonderful, beautiful relationship with my Dad. After years of heartache, and hurtful words, and distance, God blessed us with a bond and connection that nothing could shake. Those days there were plenty of trials, from my young perspective and from his, I'm sure. But with a steadfastness that still boggles my mind, my heart cried out for the love and affection of my Dad. So I pursued, with hugs, “I love you's”, smiles, and ready forgiveness.

But now I see Your silent working and still presence at work in my life. I can see now, the lessons in that early life experience. Now, instead of pursuing my earthly Dad, I need to pursue my Heavenly Father, my Abba. I need to find that steadfastness, that overlooks the roadblocks, dips, sharp turns, sudden ambushes and inter-ballistic missiles, that would seek to distract me from Him. It will not be easy, and James does a good job of making sure we know that. 

It's going to take work, LABOR. 

Any mother knows that labor is hard. It can be long or short, but it's still hard, painful at times, and takes great patience to endure it. Yet through that, we see growth, we mature a little more, with each day walking with Him. With each trail we face, with each choice in waiting for Him, we gain a little more faith, a little more joy, a little more hope.

Thank you for then, and for now. I'm not worthy of being chosen, but here I am, in your presence and praising you with me voice and life. 

My redeemer and salvation lives!

Have there been times in your life that those trails seemed to hard to get through? 

Are you enduring right now, my friend?