Are We Courageous?
Earlier this month, I presented a talk to our monthly women’s luncheon on how to grow into a courageous Christian. One of the principles of being a courageous Christian I noted was: “Courageous Christians respond to life’s trials and hardships differently.” Two weeks later, I believe God wanted to see if I could walk the talk, as one of my lab results at an annual exam turned up questionable, and requires further testing. I looked up my symptoms and cancer is not out of the range of possibility. In the past I probably would have worried 24/7 but I keep remembering the words God gave me for the courageous Christian message, and I have an amazing peace about the situation. I am responding to this trial differently than I might have in previous years.
In my morning devotion, I came across James 1:12, which says: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” How do you handle trials in your life? Is there a great deal of worrying? Does your fear consume you? Through prayer and the power of Christ, we can overcome our fears. We must just ask the Lord to do that through us.
My husband and I were recently asked to serve on our marriage retreat committee. Because of my pending test, my husband said if all is well with my health, we will commit to the committee as a love offering to God. The test is, can we still love God even if the news is bad? I believe the answer is “yes.”
Are you loving God in the midst of your pain? The apostle Paul suffered a great affliction that he asked God three times to remove from him. Paul shares this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” Do you count on God’s power to help you through your painful trial, especially when the trial has no end in sight? I know as I journey down the current path I am on, I am counting on God’s strength to get me through it!