Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
July 4, 1994
Good Morning!
QUESTION: Do you happen to have a gnarly problem
in your life that simply will not go away? There seems
to be no solution?
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the PROCESS go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find that you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence." (James 1:2-4 - Phillips Translation)
How are you handling it?
- Pouting over it?
- Smashing it?
- Trying to ignore it?
- Running away from it?
Or thanking God for it!
...And asking Him to use the problem as a CHISEL in His hand
to fashion you into Christ likeness?
Thankfulness is the mechanism that releases us
from the bondage of life's "UNSOLVABLES", thereby
giving God permission to use the "UNSOLVABLES"
to mold our character into His.
Once we release our anger, our control...our
"rights", God is free to go to work...on us.!
Paul's "UNSOLVABLE" problem was a physical one. Relatively
easy perhaps compared to yours. Three times he asked God to remove
the problem...To no avail. But in releasing it to God, he discovered
the two resources he most needed to live with his enigma: God
's GRACE and God's STRENGTH:
"And He said to me, 'My grace
is sufficient for you, for POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.'
Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness,
that the power of Christ may dwell in me...for when
I am weak, then I am strong." (II Cor 12:9, 10b)
"The same sun that softens the butter hardens the clay."
In living with our unresolved issues we have a CHOICE of becoming
softened or hardened: Christ like or embittered.
Again...the choice is ours!
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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