Jun 22, 2011

when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold

Mark 4:35

"Let us go over to the other side."

If you're expecting a breakthrough, you have to take a step forward - get to the other side. A breakthrough is a big thing. The leap of faith you have to take, the amount of effort and dedication you must put into it, is big. Things don't come easily. Our God is a God of breakthroughs, of miracles. But great things, like a faith and character of gold, come after trials and tests to prove you're worthy.

So they took Jesus in the boat and started out...
But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began filling with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Then he asked them,
"Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

It's so easy to rejoice in God when everything's going fine. When things are comfortable. But the Christian life isn't meant to be comfortable.

Does your relationship with God come at a price? If it costs nothing to you, it isn't true faith yet. True faith isn't comfortable. The relationship is trying, testing. There's war in it.
Following Christ is about commitment; commitment above comfort. How much are you willing to sacrifice for your relationship with God?

God is willing to give you so much. But He comes to you only when you come to Him. If we don't show him how much we want it, with fasting, constant prayer, dedication, sacrifice.... He wouldn't see it as the right time to reward us with something big.

There's nothing small about God. When God moves, He moves mightily. He can do so much in our lives. His impact, His presence sends us on our knees, on the floor, sends our hands and legs trembling. This is our God. He can bless us with so much... if we come forth as gold through the trials.

Through the hard times, will we trust that God is still in charge? Will we continue to have faith in His good work in us - that every trial is a test, a long test, and know that He wants us to hold on to His promises and come forth as gold?
Or will we ask why? Why, God, do you put me through this suffering? Why, God, did you leave me in this mess? Father, don't you care if I drown?

At the end of every seemingly unending trial... is a blessing, and honour in God's eyes.

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