The Sincere Joy of Suffering

God has been speaking to me the last few days about the joy of facing trials.  While it is sooo hard, I know that He is changing me and refining me to His image.  I do not want to walk out of this process the same person who walked into it.  

Another waiting parent sent me this in an email today from her readings in My Utmost for His Highest:

God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly - "By my God I can leap over a wall" (Psalm 18:29).  God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter.  1 Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you..."  Rise to the occasion - do what the trial demands of you.  It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.  May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality - a readiness to face anything He brings our way. 

I was surprised how much her reading lined up with my husband's sermon yesterday.

Trent recently started a series on 1 Peter.  This week just happened to be on suffering. 

I really believe that all of these delays are the work of the enemy trying to thwart the will of God and so I found Trent's sermon to be good encouragement as we try and walk in a fallen world.  You can link to it at 

http://www.heritagepark.org/files/TrentHenderson051709.mp3

It may not be up until Monday afternoon.  

Ginny