Tuesday, June 28, 2011

No Pain, No Gain

"Those things which are easily gained, are easily given up or thrown aside. But, those things which we gain through much pain, trial, hardship and at much expense, become over time the things we value most in life and we will fight to the death to keep them."

Have you ever heard the saying "No Pain, No Gain"? I have heard it often, but usually in association with a workout. I never really associated it with the Christian life. Why would I associate it with the Christian life? Well, many times we as Christians (especially American Christians) think that we should never have to go through any pain or suffering. But, I beg to differ.

God allows us to go through hard times, not always because of sin in our lives, but because He wants us to always lean on Him. I know that right now God is teaching me patience and to take others into consideration (instead of always thinking about how I feel) and teaching me Phillipians 4:11 as well as 1 Timothy 6:6-7.

I always have a hard time with pain because I always associate it with me being sinful, but God reveals in the whole book of Job that God allows certain things to happen to guide us straight to Him. More often than not we tend to think that we can do something on our own without God (sometimes this mentality happens upon us without realizing it) and that's when we start to fall, but there are many times we are right there in the will of God and troubles come our way and we look to God and ask "why" and He says "Because I AM, do you trust me?" and sometimes we say yes and other times we say no.

 Let me encourage you to memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 because this scripture has been my constant companion over the past couple of weeks, and it has helped me to say "yes" when I felt like saying "no". God is God and we don't need to question Him, the only motives we need to question are our own and I know many times I find that I say my motivation is God, but my actions say otherwise.

God does care about you and He tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30), so although we go through trial and tribulation and sometimes even persecution we know that God gives us the strength to make it easier and lighter along the way. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I encourage you to stay in the scripture, pray always, and Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind.

1 comment:

  1. What more can I say, my Daughter? My blessing be upon you, but more importantly, may you joy in the Lord Jesus who's eternal blessing has been imparted to you! I am so taken back by all that I have seen in the work He has done and is doing in you. I am so amazed at the life lived before God and family. No, I don't want to flatter you, but to encourage you to seek the Lord further. You have so much that He has given you, and is giving you, and yet if He takes away He is still Good, and Loving, and Sovereign, and Righteous, and most of all HOLY. I see a soul owned by the Creator, Giver, and Sustainer of Life. You are truly blessed beyond measure. Keep up His good work! Continue to believe upon His Name! You belong to Him! Romans 8:35-39

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