Renda,
I believe that as we are being perfected we are going to experience hardship in many ways. Sometimes it seems as though things that press against us are doing us harm, but by staying plugged in to Him we find that these very things have done us good. Sometimes we don't realize this until we've walked down that road a way.
We had a church situation that happened about nine years ago. I think it's been nine years! lol! Lord, I don't wish it on my worst enemy. Anyway, the Lord just cleared that up for us recently. One thing I did learn, the hard way, - If I hold my peace and let God fight my battle, victory, victory shall be mine.
We were hurt badly and it made it look like it was our fault. I lived with that for years. It actually zapped us of our dreams, hopes and a lot of our energy. We felt as though the very thing we wanted to do for God was gone. I then began reaching for things to fill that void. God began to step in as if to say, "No, that is not what you really want." He is faithful! I have a new appreciation for Him "knowing what is in my heart".
The whole truth of that situation has come out and people are looking at us and saying, "Wow, they were right the whole time". My husband and I had to stand - alone - for what was right in God's eyes.
We have been plugging along just trying to feel like we had what we once had. Today, God is rebuilding all of these things in our lives - the desire, commitment, vision. It's a beautiful thing. The amazing thing is to feel so helpless for so long and then watch God turn that around!
I can stand here more pliable in His hands than I have ever been in my life. It's a peaceful feeling.
It just reminds me of this scripture in
II Peter 1:3-8:
3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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