Saturday, April 29, 2017

Is Your Strength Too Small?

Proverbs 24:10

If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

So what are we to do? James tells us:

James 1:2-4

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.

So what is this "joy" that we are to have when we face trouble? It can only be the "joy of the Lord" that He gives us that transcends all circumstances. It is the Joy of the Lord that gives us strength. This strength carries us through whatever trial we are facing, and enables us to avail ourselves of the help He provides to get through it, instead of succumbing to it. That's how our endurance grows, and our characters become more like Jesus' perfect character; we are to become more like Jesus, and this is one way we do that.

This is not easy--nothing worth having is easy. But we don't have to do it on our own. On our own we fail every time. But when we lean on Jesus, when we get into His yoke with Him, He pulls with us and the load seems light. That's how we face each problem in life successfully.

God wants us to be successful in life, overcoming all the trials, troubles and sorrows this World throws at us. That's why He invites us to walk with Him, think the way He thinks, and live our lives according to His ways. Then He will intervene and intercede for us, successfully growing our characters little by little, day by day. 

May each of us determine in our own hearts to seek His ways, obey His rules, and love Him more each day.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!