"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2
Wow, I have run through many rainstorms in my life, but yesterday's torrential downpour was one for the record books. Had I never faced a deluge such as that before, wind whipping from all sides and the rain coming in sideways, I may have been hesitant to go on. But the memory of the many times the Lord had seen me safely through the storms of life reminded me that, through Him, I could persevere... that I was strong enough.
When asked whether God sometimes tests our faith by letting hard times happen to us, and why, if he already knows whether or not our faith is genuine, Billy Graham wrote, "God doesn’t test us because He doesn’t know how strong we are. Instead, He tests us because we don’t know how strong we are — and we’ll only realize it when times of testing come." He then reminded us that, "If our faith is weak, it may not be obvious when life is going smoothly and we aren’t challenged in any way. But when hard times come, a weak faith will be revealed for what it really is: shallow and unable to help us through life’s difficulties. It may be anything: an unexpected illness, the death of a loved one, the loss of our job, or even a friend who turns against us. But when hard times happen, the true nature of our faith will be revealed."
So, no matter what you and I are facing today, may we praise Him through the storm. And may we thank Him for bringing trials and tests into our lives that, by them, we can realize just how strong we really are.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the testing times in our lives that make us stronger in faith and closer to you. Although they may seem difficult and painful at the time, help us to feel your presence and your comfort. Help us to remember that you are always in control and will draw us near and carry us through the darkest storms. And each time, help us to grow in the knowledge that, through you, we have the power to persevere in the worst of times. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment