Christian Living
"Reaction to Hard Times Is Test of Character"
This is a new day and I am expecting great things because I know that I know that I know that my well-being is in the hands of the One I surrender this day to -- my Lord Jesus Christ.
"God is not proud ... He will have us even though we we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him." (C.S. Lewis)
God answers prayer. He wants what is best for us and if we walk according to His ways, we will receive His best.
Sometimes, believe it or not, this includes suffering; it includes discipline; it includes trials; and it includes struggles.
These are things we don't usually understand or want. We expect Him to make our lives a bed of roses. Sometimes He will do that.
The real test of our character is revealed in the way we react when hard times come. We can be changed for the better or for the worse. The choice is ours to make.
Do we kick and scream and whine and complain? Or do we lay our struggles down at the foot of the Cross from which He hung, from which He declared, "It is finished," while He suffered, bled and died upon it?
He didn't enjoy being brutally beaten, being punched and whipped, having his beard yanked out, being stripped naked before His accusers, being mocked and scorned, having the crown of thorns shoved onto his head while they laughed, nor having the spiked nails driven into His hands and His feet.
Yet, He chose to endure all this agony for the joy that was set before Him, which solely involved us. We (you and I) are the reason He surrendered to this inhumane treatment.
He endured it all, trusting that we would make the choice to accept His ransom for our sins, resulting in complete surrender of our lives unto Him in recognition and acknowledgment of His supreme sacrifice.
Compassion personified!
Such love is hard for our finite minds and hearts to comprehend. Who, in their right mind, would endure such agony for another, let alone for all of mankind?
Christ did! I believe it! I accept Him as my Savior! And, I will live for Him and one day look upon the face of my Beloved!
The day is coming when we all will face Him. How awesome it will be to at last gaze into the eyes of the One who loves me so much. He actually sings and dances over me every time I tell Him I love Him.
Wouldn't you if you had lain down your life for the one you loved to then have that love returned with these words, "thank you for taking the rap for my sins?"
How would you feel, after having given your all to prove your love to someone, to then be rejected and ignored? Would not that rejection bring you agony day after day?
The One who loves us most continues to suffer a broken heart as multitudes of people across the globe deny and reject His very existence. Nevertheless, He is not willing that ANY should perish!
He leaves the choice with us.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, can separate us from His love. The day we were born, He determined the number of our days. And that's what we have -- no more and no less.
Death is no respecter of age. Read the obituaries in your newspaper. You will see young people dying every day. Where does it say that you have to be old to die?
Not even tragedy can take a life if it is not your time to go. It can, but it doesn't always.
What you do with that tragedy can make you better or bitter. The realization as to how quickly and suddenly life can end should cause us to appreciate each day as the gift that it is.
So you see, when the Lord is in your heart and your life, no matter what happens, you are in a win-win situation.
Love in action -- the Easter story. Read it, accept it, and live it. Experience this marvelous grace available to you today. Remember, the choice is your's.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
I like the way you have set this skillfully written article out, with each section packing a punch. It's easy on the eye, and unflaggingly vital. I tend to find hard times easiest when they are dragged out, but when they come suddenly and violently, I can react with pain and anger, which is wrong. I've repeatedly asked the Lord to give me more patience in this area. Patience in the face of inexplicable suffering is surely one of the most efficient tests of true Christian character.
Well written, and you've made Jesus' sacrifice very clear - and how foolish people are to reject it.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1348 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Paulette Winter or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1348 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.