Meaning (and Peace) in Difficult Times

Hey, Y'all,

I know there are several of you who are struggling with life right now and who are weighed down with various things. Here's hoping this weekend holds a special Sabbath rest and blessing for you, and now listen to these words of hope (from John Fischer of PurposeDrivenLife.com)--but first, of course, let's hear from The Word (James 1); I now you know these, but read them again slowly, roll the words around in your mind...


Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything...God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

We all experience loss sometime, whether it's a job or a business or a relationship is immaterial, it's a loss, and how we handle it is actually a true test of whether we really believe God has a purpose for us or not (and, just by the by: what do you think this whole "faith" thing is about anyway if not this?).

If He does have a purpose for our lives, then these losses are not truly losses in His view [notice--His view, which is a bit more comprehensive than ours]. They are opportunities to learn what we couldn't learn any other way, or in some cases, time shows us that through this "losing" He was actually leading us toward something even better (or protecting us from something worse!) that we couldn't see coming...

Brings to mind a thought Trina shared (thanks, Trina!)...

"You are covered in prayers--prayers for wisdom, comfort and a sense of His peace...I don't know if this will help, but I remembered this quote from the book that we were discussing the other night in our women's group:

"'The difference between trusting that there is an ultimate happy ending, and making an idol of that ending, lies in our willingness to let it be a mystery of God's timing and not of our choosing.'

Peace to you..."

And peace to you all as well--you've been prayed for today.