Sheer Gift

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Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So 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 temptation to cut and run is sometimes strong, but the truth is that God is more interested in our character, our ability to stand under trial and temptation, than He is with our comfort. This is not pleasant. We might be asked to suffer trials in all sorts of ways, ways that don't make sense. But trial can be made worse when we struggle, when we argue with God instead of submitting to His hand with humility. I often need to be reminded that He does actually know what's best! If you're there today, questioning God about a situation, looking for a way out when you know deep down He has asked you to bear it, then join with me in asking Him for the grace to be still, to know His Presence and to receive the hope that is always there for us.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,“He who is coming will come and will not delay".  Hebrews 10:35-37