Devotionals

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Almost everyone I know faces stress. If you work, there are challenges with coworkers and bosses. Perhaps you are the boss, and your employees are the stress points. Could be customers that yank your chain. Maybe you are a stay-home parent and long for the “freedom” of working. Maybe you are working and wish you could be home. Maybe you are ill and long to be well again. Could be you have plenty of month left but the paycheck just won’t stretch far enough. Perhaps you have plenty of money, but are lonely beyond belief. Are you seeing where I am going with this?

We ALL face “stuff” – difficulties in relationships, financial stresses, unfairness at work, crotchety neighbors… but once again that proves the Word is true, for it says “In this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”

Not all of our challenges are spiritual – we get a nice “variety pack”, an assortment of situations that come our way. But they are sent, or allowed, (depending on your theology) for a reason…to test our faith. There it is again, the Bible! James 1:1 “Consider it joy WHEN you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance…”.. (keep reading in James, it is worth it).

God has a purpose in the lessons of everyday life. Often, He has multiple purposes from just one little ol’ incident. Like looking through a prism – lots of sides, one prism. Sometimes He wants to teach us to speak up for what is right at work, or show us ways to be a better worker. Sometimes we are to learn new communication and service skills with our customers. Other times, we have to learn how to discipline our children, or how to love them after THEY mess up. Maybe contentment is the lesson of the hour, or trusting… so many lessons, such a big God. And, truly, He is gracious to allow us to learn them.

I sometimes think it is like a vote of confidence on His part when He permits these growth lessons in my life. He believes that I can learn something from them, and that I will make it through the trial. Remember how Satan had to go before God to ask permission to put the heat on Job? I may be stretching it here, but that sounds like a Biblical principle, which is an entirely different topic, but just understand that lessons come our way so that we can grow stronger in the knowledge of God, so we can be purified by the Refiner’s fire, and become more and more Christ-like.

Sometimes just seeing God’s fingerprints on these lesson-times is enough for me to turn the corner and be victorious in a situation. Those are the times I can remember that He is just continuing His work of perfecting my faith. And, until He calls me home, I shall continue to be Christ’s Construction Zone.


Copyright 2008. Contact author at [email protected] to for permission to use.

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