You Are Able To Withstand The Storm

"The storm that was sent to break you is going to be the storm God uses to make you."

     I have to say that I feel like I have been tested beyond my limits the past couple of weeks. I have had many pity parties. I have ranted myself into mental exhaustion. And I have said things that I know I will regret later on. Basically, I have acted like a child. Sometimes I just have to stop and laugh when I realize how ridiculous I am being. I'm like, "Really Jordan? This is how you are acting? What's the matter with you?!" I will admit that I waste half of my life being aggravated over things that do not matter. I cannot have a joyful, fulfilling life like that. I have to ask myself, "What good is it doing you? Does it magically erase the problem?" I have tried to change my awful attitude myself for a few weeks. I am the type of person that wants to fix everyone's problems, including my own. A light bulb went off above me, and I realized that I cannot do this on my own. I noticed that the more I tried fixing myself the worse I got. I cannot fix me but God can. There is a verse in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says, " There hath no temptation taken you: but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."   I know that temptation means having a particular desire that will lead someone to do something that is wrong. But what I want to talk about is being tested. You are probably thinking, "then why are you using this verse?" Let me explain my point. So the main reason I used this verse is because it says that God is faithful but also will not give more than you can bear. It's not limited to just temptations as we think of it but anything we go through in life, including trials. When I was reading this verse in my Nelson King James Study Bible (which you can't hardly find anymore) the footnotes had a comment about "he will make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  I have read this a million times and I always thought it meant God will make the temptation/trial go away immediately, but not necessarily. My Study Bible made an interesting observation. It says that in the early Greek usage, this term had the sense of a landing place for a ship. The idea is thus not that He will enable us to escape temptation/trials, but that He will enable us to land intact on the other side.

      I have said this before that without trials (tests) in our life we would not be the person we are today. Take a moment to think back to all of the hardships you have been through thus far. Did it teach you a thing or two? Did you grow from it? Can you say you are stronger now than you were then? Wiser? I know that I can say yes to all of these questions. Again, I'm not saying I know everything or that I am perfect, but I am saying I am not the same person that I was. I have grown because of the tests God has allowed me to go through. After I re-read that verse keeping the new meaning in mind I understood. I thought to myself that if God erased the trial when I called out for help then it would not have benefitted me at all. What would I learn? Nothing. It doesn't mean that God does not lend a helping hand when we call out to Him in those trying times. He promised to help us with anything we go through. I have used many verses in my other posts to prove that these promises were given to us as a reminder that we a never alone. God helps by giving us His strength to endure the trial to the very end. We have this peace that, "the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (Proverbs 3:26). The circumstances we face at times feel like they are going to be the death of us, but God will preserve us that we will not succumb to our attitudes, negative thoughts, or feelings. We do not need to worry but worship God because He is the only One who can sustain us.

     What is the point of being tested in the first place? I have often wondered this and still do at times. In general, the purpose of any test is this " to take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially before putting it into widespread use or practice." Now the spiritual purpose of being tested is found in James 1:3, "knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience."  We have a general purpose and a spiritual one, but notice that they go hand in hand. We are tried for the purpose of being molded into the reflection of Christ, to be stronger, wiser,  working toward perfection. I posted on my Facebook page the other day that we are the best kind of soldiers there is because of Christ. Think about what training a soldier has to go through in order to be prepared and ready to be used out in the battle field. We are fighting a spiritual warfare everyday, so don't we need some kind of training as well? Proverbs 17:3 says, "…the LORD trieth the hearts."  It is an inner training ground for us spiritual soldiers. It's not a physical fight. We fight things that are invisible but have a visible affect on our lives, which makes it the hardest battle ever fought. Be encouraged! Do not be like me and put all of the weight on your own shoulders, but instead allow God to have His perfect will be done in you. It is for your benefit that you are facing this trial. James says in chapter 1 that we should count it all joy when we are tested. Do not be discouraged for "when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). You will come out of this stronger than ever, shining like gold. That is the God that we serve! Many times we become angry with God because life becomes complicated and we don't understand why. We think He is mean and unfair. That's not true! God is faithful! God is gracious! God is love! You are who you are today because of Him. So let us rejoice in our trials. It certainly will make the devil mad when we do, which it even better. HAHA! You are a child of God and nothing will overtake you because God is faithful. So again I say be encouraged, lift up your head, raise your hands, and see the salvation of the LORD today. You are able, so never listen the devil when he tries to put fear into you saying that this trial is too much for you. (https://jsfocusonthepositive.blogspot.com/2019/08/fear-you-will-not-overtake-me.html) If it was too hard for you than God would never have allowed you to go through it in the first place. God believes in you and is cheering you on because He knows/sees how beautiful you will be on the other side. Let me leave you with this, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12). God bless you and give you strength, peace, and joy everyday.

The Anchor Holds