marrion8955@yahoo.com
2Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4So 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. James 1:2-4 (The Message)
You and I have begun a new year. At the beginning, don’t they look open ended, hopeful, promising, and exciting? By year’s end though, we are weary from all of the adversities and challenges, ready for renewal in our bodies and souls.
Last year was a year of big change for me. I moved to a new rental home, my daughter started a new school (and is excelling), and God brought a wondrous man into my life, to whom I am now engaged. But there were challenges which have carried over into the new year and tests, which when I look back on them, I see the growth in my life and how much more I lean not on my own strength but on His Strength and Wisdom.
Actually it’s been downright funny at times when things have come out of my mouth and I am taken aback that it came out of me! But as I allow His Holy Spirit to take more and more control of me, these things happen and flow according to His Will in my words and deeds.
God’s Word tells me that tests and challenges are a gift from Him. Now I am hoping that I am not the only one here who is thinking, “What, are you joking?” Yet I can remember a time in my life when something really heartbreaking happened to me and I thanked God for it because shortly thereafter I was able to minister to someone in very same situation. How fully I knew what my sister in the Lord was feeling for I had just been through it. I remember that afternoon driving to the hospital and thanking God for my experience. All of a sudden I thought, “What are you crazy? Thanking God for that?” Yet, time and again God has used that loss to minister to others.
Challenges do come from all sides, sometimes from the most unexpected places—actually, usually from the unexpected places. What about the envelope that arrives in the mail from the IRS? What about the sudden serious illness of a family member, or you? Maybe a serious accident occurs, or something as simple as your child facing a difficult teacher or student at school. God’s Word calls these “gifts.” You and I find it virtually impossible to view them as such, and yet that is what He calls them!
God’s people live under pressure all the time, as do most human beings. Pressures can range small to large—from financial to physical to war to peace, but as one of His own, my faith shows its mettle when the pressure is the greatest. James tells us that under pressure our faith shows its “true colors.” Instead of the lovely color we put on for church such as peaceful blue or lovely lilac, under pressure my color would have to be Royal Purple. Now when I am angry, I tend to wear Red!
But my faith gets bold under pressure; it stands up and goes forward. I start speaking what God says about the situation. I remind myself and those around me of His promises and commitments to me and I speak them out loud! My heart rises up in prayer, and I remind God what He said to me and what He promised me (as if He needs reminding!) My muscles begin to flex and I start to pump His Word, feed on His Bread and drink of His Living Water.
Right now I am facing a personal challenge. It would be very easy to bail out and bag it. I’d love to throw up my hands and say, “Oh just forget it!” However, God gave me His promise about this situation, that this was His plan and His gift, so I must follow through. The adversities and obstacles look completely insurmountable. I could feel bad about myself and mad at God for all of this. Yet I know that I am being strengthened and matured in this situation. He is building a sure foundation in me for the future, with no cracks and no uneven places. If you have ever lived in a house with an imperfect foundation, then you understand what a mess it is when it rains and the basement is flooded. If you and I don’t have a good, solid foundation in Him, when it rains, you and I will be a mess. So it’s really important for us to stay with the work He is doing in us until it is complete.
It is inevitable that tests and challenges will hurt us. We feel deep pain in our hearts and souls at what comes our way, sometimes from the very ones whom we believe should love us the most. How do we handle that pain? There have been times in my life when I have not handled it well at all and have hurt so many others by lashing out or behaving inappropriately (read ungodly.) As I have gained knowledge and skill in my walk, I have learned that the best revenge is to pray for them! Well, OK, I pray God’s blessing on them because I have truly found that hurt people…hurt people. As God has lovingly healed my hurt, so it is imperative that I pray for others hurts and just give mine to Him.
Truly, it’s comforting to know we’ll never reach perfection here on earth. My heart fills with gratitude and praise when I remember His forgiveness and love each time I return to Him and say, “I blew it, God. I tried so hard, but I really made a mess.” And He says, “That’s OK, daughter, I’ve already forgiven you. Let’s talk now. Climb up here in My arms and let Me hold you close.” He never, ever rejects me or turns me away in anger until I “measure up.” You and I could never do enough to “measure up.” But don’t you know, He is happy with His children when He sees hearts that love Him and seek Him and earnestly make an effort to obey Him?
Every now and then people ask how old I am, and I tell them that I am maturing in God and my age doesn’t matter (but don’t I look great for a grandmother of three?) That’s my only goal—maturity in Him. I want to be well-developed in all that He has for me—fully skilled in those gifts He has given me, completely capable in all that He asks of me, and undeniably filled with His Spirit as I unquestioningly follow the path He sets before me.
Desirée Marrion is a member of Eastside Foursquare Church. She is a single mom, a grandmother, and an administrative assistant at a medical research facility. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com
Copyright 2004 by Desiree Marrion
