This last week we feel as though we are really being tested and refined in the area of finances. Matt found out he lost a very large snow plowing contract, and I found out, today, that one of the little girls I have been watching will no longer come to my house for care. Tomorrow is her last day. I was crushed.
When finances are tight, it impacts me heavily. I hate that. I want my faith to be unwavered by things like this. We had a speaker at our church last Sunday that spoke about faith. He talked about how we need to check our history with God when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances. That's what I am
The hard part, is knowing that in the waiting and in the trusting, there are lessons to be learned. It never comes easy. Refinement is painful, man! The outcome is always amazing though, and time after time I have gotten to share the amazing goodness that comes out of our trials.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends,
when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
You know that under pressure,
your faith-life is forced into the open
and shows its true colors.
So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.
Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed,
not deficient in any way.
If you don’t know what you’re doing,
pray to the Father.
He loves to help.
You’ll get his help,
and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.
Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.
People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
James 1:2-8
The Message
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