Followers

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Encouragement in Trials

I was reading these few verses and just found incredible comfort in them. Not only comfort, but a deeper understanding of the reasons we're allowed to suffer and how we should count it a joy, although,  that is something really hard to do without understanding these verses.
I wanted to share it with all you beautiful ladies who may be struggling at the
moment with whatever trial has come your way. I pray you may find some
encouragement as well.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.- 2 Corinthians 12:10

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. -James 1:2-3

 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.
       My  soul is downcast within me;
       therefore I will remember you
       from the land of the Jordan,
       the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
                                                      -Psalm 42:5-6

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
                                          -Romans 5:3-5

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.    -2 Corinthians 4:16-18


Sometimes it's brought on us because of our sins and like any loving parent, God disciplines us so that way may become better.

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
   "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
                                                 -Hebrews 12:5-6

 "If his sons forsake my law
       and do not follow my statutes,
  if they violate my decrees
       and fail to keep my commands,
  I will punish their sin with the rod,
       their iniquity with flogging;
  but I will not take my love from him,
       nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
  I will not violate my covenant
       or alter what my lips have uttered.- Psalms 89:30-34


Sometimes, he allows us to suffer so we may learn to depend on Him & lean on His strength, not our own.

 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. -2 Corinthians 1:8-9

 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
                              -2 Corinthians 12:9


Apostle Paul mentions one of his sufferings and he understood the purpose for it, so that he would not be prideful.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
                                    -2 Corinthians 12:7


Such a simple verse, but if we really did this, I think the outcome would grand! A God given recipe for life.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."-Romans 12:12

God will use our suffering to bring others to Him. We should actually be joyful that He would even consider using us, although it may not be fun at the moment, there is a greater purpose for it then we can understand, and Paul knew just that.


Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.   -Philippians 1:12-13

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.-Philippians 1:14

^ (Paul had been put in prison and he saw this is God's purpose, not to harm Paul, but to bring people to Life.)


I hope this brought some understanding and comfort to all of you that our hurting at the moment!
Let me know if there is anything I can pray for you for!

<3 Lex

7 comments:

  1. No one knows how much i need this today <3

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  2. A beautiful post Lex. Thank you :)

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  3. Thanks for sharing sunshine... I needed to read this desperately...
    Much love :)
    Ana

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  4. post some of these verses on FB

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing. I really needed to read these. :)

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  6. My favourite passage that always always comfoted me in the worst times has been Lamentations 3:31-33
    "For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men."

    Continue to shine a light of Christ to those around you!! May you "shine like stars in the universe" (philippians 2)

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  7. Beautiful. :D
    God is so good!
    I'm weekly prayer lists too, so if there is anything you need/want send it my way. I'd be happy to pray over you.
    Hope you are having a lovely week.

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