Growth... moving forward In His Word 1-23-23
Today was a day that I needed encouragement that small slips,
or trips, or burned tortillas do not mean the end of the day. It all adds up to
a great end! When we have an oops we can gain knowledge to not drop the dinner
dish and watch it splinter. We hold on
with two hands instead of one and go forward with another dish.
Is that too simple of an explanation of learning from each
thing we do each day?
Today I attended a memorial of a dear friend’s father. I
really did not know what to expect as I had never met the man myself, but I
learned to be present when people need me.
I try to support my friends as I can but it is not always the case. Often
I fail at being the best friend in the world, but I am finding that my best
friend is the best of all! Jesus gave us the peace that helps us get through
where we fail.
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done
for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of
undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look
forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems
and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance
develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of
salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly
God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with
his love. Romans 5:1-5
So why worry? Why stress? Instead lets remember the math!
Each thing in life we endure will cause us to grow in one way or another. When
we are offended we can choose to take the bait and feel the hurt, or we can
decide to take the release of that
offence, tossing it aside and be productive! When we persevere we will produce
character, hope, and more! All of the things we go through in life produce
faith, peace, hope and more! All of this by His grace we are given which gives
us the steps to follow to make it through all those things added up.
Read it again.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into
this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in
tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character,
hope. Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5
See, the things we go through that seem sad, horrible or
painful, or even just annoying, are meant to bring us closer to the Love of
God. The Holy Spirit will help us to grow through the tribulations, the disappointments
of life do not need to bring us down but instead they can be the thing that
bring us to the fact, or knowledge, that
God’s love does not disappoint.
One thing in all this I am certain of, mankind disappoints us
from time to time, but looking for the good in the person or choosing to ignore
the failures will only bring us to good things. Forgiveness is an amazing
thing! God is good, God forgave us so we can forgive someone else. Each step in
our day is a step in life growth to become the person He created us to be.
In His love,