What's troubling you?

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." I Peter 4:12

Are you having difficulties?

Do your problems seem to overwhelm you?

God doesn't ask you if you want to go through a trial.

God allows trials and test to come our way so that we may learn from them.

The test or trial are either going to make us stronger and better, or cause us to be more critical, and insistent on things being our own way.

If we are insistent then we will be going around that mountain again until we have learned what God wants us to learn.

Are you growing in Christ?

Are you maturing in Him?

How is your relationship with God?

What is your level of intimacy with Him?

Our tests and trials should make us depend more upon Him.

It is through our test and trials that we learn to understand God's purpose.

Jesus never promised that He would take our hardships away.

He told us that we would encounter some tough trials and tests because we belong to Him.

So why should we be surprised that we are being tested?

Being tested is just part of the Christian life.

If we are not tried by the fire how then can we come out as pure Gold?

Someone said that the pure Gold in heaven is different than the pure Gold we have here on earth.

The pure gold in heaven is transparent, you can see right through it.

The gold here on earth has a color, it has an element in it that gives it it's color, but if you take that element out it becomes transparent.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7

What a better way to show how strong our love for the Father.

There might be a lot of shortcuts that have helped you in everyday life, but there is no shortcuts in spiritual maturity.

We cannot continue to mature in Jesus without having our faith tried and tested.

Will we always like it?

No.

Will they better us, help us in life's journey?

Yes.

Rejoice, He is not done training you yet.

He wants to cultivate new ground in your life.

God wants to open up new territories, those that have never been explored.

Through the tests and trial we will learn what God wants to do in us for His glory.

Will it get hard?

Sure it will.

Will I be tempted to quit?

Yes.

Just keep your heart and your head focused on Him.

Keep doing the will of God, He will bless.

Keep your eyes fixed upon Him through it all.

Don't get so focused on the problem that you miss out on what God wants to do in you.

Thank Him for training you.

Thank Him for giving you strength to make it through.

Thank Him for the trial.

Thanks Him for the end result.

Just start to give Him praise for making a way where there seems to be no way.

Thank Him for the opportunity to stretch your faith and make it stronger.

"The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are all over His works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee." Psalm 145:8-11

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not upon thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart form evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." Proverbs 3:5-8