A Wise Woman Still has Trials and Temptations
Welcome to Week Ten: Various Trials
Opening Remarks:
This is week ten of sixteen. Yeah! We’re past the halfway mark! Whew! We are working through the workbook, A Wise Woman Builds Her House by Erin Thiele. If you missed the former weeks, you can start over with week one, A Wise Woman Builds Her House…On a Rock by clicking here. I hold a copyright release to reprint the book for you here, but you don’t. Therefore, the copying of this material in any form is illegal. I encourage you to buy the workbook. I have worked through it several times over the years. Every time that I do I find that there are new things that we need to work through. I also tend to write prayers in my book. I encourage you to do the same. Journal your thoughts, write prayers, even write confessions. The next time you work through it, you’ll be encouraged at how far you’ve come and how God answers prayers.
Remember that each week’s post is a week’s worth of study. I give it to you all at once for those who choose to work on it all over a weekend and ruminate over the information throughout the week.
As a reminder, this study is for WOMEN ONLY. Just as I encourage women to NOT study what a man should be doing once they marry so they don’t start judging their husband, I am asking the men to give us the same leeway. I am following the dictates of the Bible in Titus 2 for “the older women to teach the younger women to love their husbands and their children.” Thank you for understanding.
|Chapter 10
Various Trials
Consider it all joy, my brethren,
when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance. —James 1:2-3
God’s Purpose for Trials and Temptations
What is God’s purpose for our trials and tribulations? Many Christians have no idea why God allows our suffering. Without our understanding of this, is it any wonder that Christians today are so easily defeated? We will see that there are many benefits that come from our trials and tests, especially the building of our faith and the endurance needed to finish the course set before us.
The Most Important Thing to Remember
The most important thing that we need to realize during our trials, tribulations, tests, and temptations is that God is in control! It is His hand that allows these trials to touch us or not to touch us. When He does allow it, He sends His grace and mercy, which enable us to endure.
Temptations
The temptations that we experience, Scripture tells us, are common to man, yet God does provide a way of escape. “No temptation has overtaken you but that which is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Temptations are brought on by our own lusts
God cannot tempt us to do evil, but instead it is our lusts that tempt us. “Let no one say when he is being tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:13). When we think of lust, we usually think of something sexual. However, the lust that the Bible refers to is greed for all things that feed our flesh; this includes getting our own way.
We are in His Hand
“For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men and their deeds are in the hand of God” (Eccl. 9:1). Though we try to get things from others, especially from our husbands, all that we receive is from the Lord.
“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord” (Prov. 29:26).
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord” (Prov. 21:31).
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov. 16:33).
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1).
Permission for adversity
The most comforting thing to know is that Satan cannot touch us without God’s permission. “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him’” (Job. 1:12). Not only did Satan need permission to sift Job, but he was also given specific instructions on how he could touch him. Satan also asked permission to sift Peter. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat . . .” (Luke 22:31).
Repentance and salvation
“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:9). God allows us to be sorrowful to bring us to repentance. When we try to make our husbands (or others) sorry for what they have done, it will not bring true and genuine repentance.
We need grace
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12: 9-10). How do we get the grace we need? Through humility.
“God hates the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
“For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
“Blessed are the humble for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).
“A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor” (Prov. 29:23). Boasting about our weaknesses, confessing our faults and being humble will enable the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. This is the way that we will learn contentment no matter what our circumstances.
Learning contentment
We see that we must learn contentment by the difficult circumstances that God allows. “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. In every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need” (Phil. 4:11).
Learning obedience
Even Jesus learned obedience from His suffering. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8).
He will perfect us
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Once He has begun a good work in you, your husband or loved ones, He will complete it.
We are to be a comfort to others
We are not merely to accept God’s comfort; we are commanded to give that comfort to others, no matter what their affliction! “The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
Our Father’s discipline
Many times our suffering is discipline from our Heavenly Father for disobeying one of God’s laws. “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are being reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons. He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness” (Heb. 12:5-10).
Discipline is a blessing
When we follow the example of the prophets in the Bible, it will help us to endure our adversity. “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful” (James 5:10).
To receive a blessing
When evil is done to us or insults are cast our way, we must endure them, without returning them, to receive our blessing. We need to remember that insults and evils are brought into our lives to give us an “opportunity” to receive a blessing. “Not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:9). “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidations and do not be troubled” (1 Pet. 3:14).
Discipline may be sorrowful
Discipline is never joyful when you are in the midst of it. Yet, those who have been trained by His discipline know the rewards of righteousness; it brings peace. “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11).
It begins with Christians
Why must suffering first begin with Christians? Because sinful, disobedient Christians will never draw others to the Lord. Again, it is the “will of God” that we are put through sufferings. We need to allow ourselves to suffer (usually at the hands of another) by entrusting ourselves to God. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Pet. 4:17).
The power of our faith
It is faith that opens the door to miracles. But you need to believe that He is able to do it and not doubt it in your heart. “And Jesus answered saying to them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt it in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray, they shall be granted unto you’” (Mark 11:22-24).
God in His Word has told us we will suffer
“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. For this reason, when I could endure it no longer; I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain” (1 Thess. 3:4-5). Don’t give up! Don’t let Satan steal the miracle that God has for you when you have endured and prevailed!
With God
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). “Looking upon them, Jesus said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God’” (Mark 10:27). Nothing (NOT A THING) is impossible with God. Work with God. And since He is not a respecter of persons, What He’s done for others, He’s going to do for you!
What you speak
“. . . let us hold fast our confession” (Heb. 4:14). We need to speak what God says in His Word, without wavering, with hope on our lips. “If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not . . .” (Dan. 3:17). But wait until you are asked to give an account. You will be asked, if you are filled with the joy of the Lord during the midst of your adversity! “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15). When asked, be sure that you answer the other person with reverence, respect and gentleness. Never argue Scripture!
Gird your mind and stay fixed
“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). The word sober means to be clear thinking; be clear in your mind on how you stand to avoid the consequences of doublemindedness.
Be joyful
We are to be joyful in our trials because we know they are producing endurance that will enable us to finish the course set before us. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives it to all men without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:2-6). We know our faith is being tested. Fears and doubts come into everyone’s minds; don’t entertain them! Instead, think on only good things. If you doubt, you will have trouble standing and the trials will be tougher. And remember, we will have a variety of trials, some major and others mere irritations. We need to “thank Him” for all our trials, as Job did.
Rejoice
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence or anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:6-9). Clearly most battles are won or lost in the mind. Follow the Lord’s advice for peace in the midst of trials. Rejoice in what He is doing. Think on these things, speak of these things, and listen to only these things. (Many times close friends call to tell you what your husband is up to; these are not a “good report” and, most times, are not lovely, pure or right, so don’t listen!)
Faith is NOT seen
Others want to know how things are going when they know you are experiencing trials in your life. They are looking for signs of improvement. We must remember that Scripture is very clear: faith is unseen! Answer their questions with, “God is working!” “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us a far more eternal weight in glory far beyond comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
Not seen!
When we are experiencing what Paul calls “light affliction,” it may still be breaking our hearts. Let us remind ourselves of the most important truth: these afflictions are only momentary. And they are not only temporary but they are producing something wonderful for us in glory. Remember, the suffering is temporary and the benefits will last an eternity! “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things NOT seen” (Heb. 11:1).
Not by sight
Most people start believing when they begin to see something happening—this is not faith! “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
Looking at our circumstances
When Peter looked at his circumstances he sank, and you will too. “And He said ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, ‘Lord save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matt. 14:29).
For our testing
This is probably the most important lesson in our stand for our families and our marriages: being able to pass our test. The test of our faith is believing His Word and not being swayed by emotion or by false directions. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2).
Tested by fire
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though for a little while, if necessary you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:6-7). So many have failed their test and have continued to walk in the desert as the people of Israel did. The proof of your faith is more precious than gold.
Keep the faith
Do not turn to another plan when things get tough; do not compromise what you started off to do. Satan is known for bringing new (and wrong) solutions to our trials; this is our test. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . .” (2 Tim. 4:7).
Ask God for another woman who will stand with you
Find another who will help you to stand and not to bend from your commitment. “Two are better than one for they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three is not easily broken” (Eccl. 4:9-1). Since a cord of three is not easily broken, try to find two others who will stand, encourage you and keep you firm in the direction of your faith. Here are some examples found in Scriptures.
Moses, Aaron, and Hur
“But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set” (Exod. 17:12). Also see Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in the book of Daniel Chapter 3.
Paul, Luke, and Timothy
When Paul was in prison, he had two men to help encourage him. When Demas left, Paul sent for Timothy. We are told that Demas left because the cares of the world choked the Word from him. The following verse tells us why: “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the Word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22). Scripture says specifically that it was because of “worry” and also because of “riches.” So let us be careful not to worry about our circumstances or get caught up with money or possessions. We need to trust that “Our God will supply all our needs” when our husbands aren’t working or it doesn’t “look” like there will be enough money. Many have fallen from their faith because the Word was choked out.
Ask God for guidance through your trials
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5-7). Let us call on Him for strength, draw close to Him in our time of need. Let us allow Him to discipline us, try us, and test us. Let us rejoice always in all things, not just the good things, but also in the troubles that come our way. Let us keep our hope close to our lips and stay steadfast in our minds. Let us always remember that it is His will that we face these hard times and that they are for our good!
“Let us rejoice that He considers us worthy to suffer for His name!”
—Acts 5:41
“She [the Proverbs woman] smiles at the future.”
—Proverbs 31:25
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.”
—Romans 8:28
Personal commitment:
To consider it all JOY when I encounter various trials
“Based on what I have learned from God’s Word, I commit to allowing the testing of my faith to help produce my endurance. And I will let endurance have its perfect result, that I may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Date:____________
Signed: __________________________
Homework
“Consider it all joy, my brethren [my sisters], when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3).
- 3×5 cards. It is extremely important that you write down the verses from this If you can run to His Word during a trial or test, then you will certainly be an overcomer!
- Be an effectual doer. “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
- Share this information with one other woman who is currently going through trials in her life.
Write her name on this line.
Here are Scripture verses to run to during your various trials:
God is in control, not man and not Satan.
- Justice is from the Lord. (Prov. 29:26).
- An answer is from the Lord. (Prov. 16:1).
- The Lord turns the heart. (Prov. 21:1).
- Their deeds are in God’s (Eccl. 9:1).
- Thou (God) has done it. (Ps. 44:9-15).
- He (God) raised the storm. (Ps. 107:1-32).
- He (God) removed lover and friend. (Ps. 88:8, 18).
What do our trials do for us?
- So the power of Christ will dwell in us. (2 Cor 12:9-10).
- So we will learn to be content. (Phil. 4:9).
- So we will receive a reward. (2 Tim 4:7-8).
- So we lack nothing. (James 1:2-4).
- To enable us to comfort others. (2 Cor 1:3-4).
- To perfect what He started in us. (Phil. 1:6-13).
- To have our loved one back. (Phlm. 1:15-16).
- To receive mercy. (Heb. 4:15).
- To learn obedience. (Heb. 5:7-8).
- To produce endurance. (James 1:2-4).
- To receive the crown of life. (James 1:12).
- To prove our faith. (1 Pet. 1:6-7).
- To follow in His steps. (1 Pet. 2:21).
- To share in His sufferings. (1 Pet. 3:13).
- To be perfect, confirmed, strengthened and established. (1 Pet. 5:10).
Walking on Water
As Ann* began to read the account of Peter being asked to get out of the boat and to walk toward our Lord on the water, she realized that God was asking her to do the same. Ann’s husband, Tom,* had left her alone with four small children. She had nothing but his P.O. Box number and a weekly call to the children from Tom. She had lost her husband, her home and all her belongings. As she searched the city for any pastor that would help her and give her the hope she needed to restore her marriage, all said the same thing: it was hopeless. But God had put a belief and a commitment to marriage, as well as an undying love for her husband, in her heart. She began to pore over the Scriptures to women concerning the covenant of marriage. She learned of God’s presence in the storms and she knew that nothing was impossible for God—even repairing her broken marriage.
After a year of standing alone for her marriage, she prayed for fellowship with just one other person who believed as she did and didn’t think she was crazy. God brought another woman into her life who was also standing for her marriage. Sally* had believed for five years that her husband, who was also involved with another woman and living in another state, would return. These two women began to see that God not only wanted to turn the hearts of their husbands around and restore their marriages, but He wanted them to reach out to other women. As a result, they each started to minister to the needs of other women who also wanted to save their marriages.
As Ann shared Scriptures, gave hope to other women, and began praying for these other marriages her situation became worse. Satan began to “sift her as wheat” as her husband moved to the same city and brought this adulterous woman to live with him. Her husband divorced her. Yet, Ann did not fight in court, and God’s grace was sufficient.
The Lord did have the victory! Ann’s husband returned home after two years. God restored all that she lost: her husband, her family, her home, and even the baby that she had lost. Ann gives God the glory for His grace that helped her to walk on water. He taught her to keep her eyes on the Lord rather than looking at hopeless circumstances.
* These are not their real names. “An excellent wife is a crown of her husband, but she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones” (Prov. 12:4).
Fast and Easy
Mary* found out she was pregnant with her sixth child when her daughter was only nine months old. Right away, she began praying for a “fast and easy labor and delivery.” She also entreated her Christian friends and family members to do the same. Mary even made sure that at every meal and nighttime prayer the children would pray for this same “fast and easy labor and delivery.”
Mary and her husband had decided to have this baby at home. She had had the “variety pack” of birth locations: hospital delivery room, home, a birthing room, a doctor’s office, a hospital and back home again. But this time, it would be with her husband as the attendant. It had been a desire of her heart ever since she first read it in a Christian women’s magazine. After her husband read it, he felt confident in God’s leading. He felt that God had created women’s bodies and their ability to give birth. This seemed to be His way, and they both wanted to trust Him totally.
The real test of faith came as Mary’s “due date” came and went. Six and a half weeks went by finally the first real contraction came. Mary’s faith was high as she was anxious to experience this “quick and easy labor and delivery” everyone had been praying for, and what a great testimony this would be.
Despite all the prayers, the labor went on forever. After 2 days and 2 nights Mary was weary, weak and had little faith left. She called some women to begin a fervent prayer chain, since it had worked so wonderfully with the baby before. But instead, the contractions, the pain, and the fatigue intensified. She was sure that she must be so close!
Mary finally gave up. She began pleading with her husband to call 911, to take her to the hospital, anything, just to do something!!! And then it happened, the answer to Mary’s prayer. (No, not the prayer for a “fast and easy labor and delivery” you thought I was going to say the baby just “dropped out,” didn’t you?) No, it was the prayer she had prayed years earlier. Mary had wanted not just a spiritual leader, but also a priest of their home. God had chosen this very day to answer Mary’s prayer and draw out the very spirit and power of this man who would now have to trust the Lord to bring forth his child.
Seeing his wife’s utter despair, Mary’s husband cried out to God to deliver this baby NOW!! He picked up Mary, all 200 lbs. of unbalanced weight, and put her on the bed. Again, he cried out to God to deliver the baby NOW and the baby moved down the birth canal. No contractions, no bearing down—the baby was brought forth!
The baby began to cry as soon as his mouth cleared the birth canal. Even his little hands and feet were pink! At 9:45 am, Mary’s faithful husband held in his arms their 11 lb. 14 oz. son as he wept for joy!! Mary watched a man who had cried out to God, as Peter had done when asked to walk on water. And just as our Lord immediately reached out His hand to Peter, He reached out His hand to this man. He was a man who, like Peter, had the faith to get out of the boat when the Lord called.
Are we then only able to praise the Lord for the “fast and easy trials”? Are our testimonies those of our making or of His? When our trials are long and hard, is there no reward that we can share with others for His glory? Aren’t we told not to be surprised at the fiery trials that try us as though something strange or unusual has happened? (1 Pet. 4:12). Now Mary is more able to understand and comfort those who have suffered or are suffering. (Col. 1:5). Was Mary’s prayer ignored by her Lord or did He indeed give her the desires of her heart?
God certainly changed her heart and the direction of her prayers that day. As she looks back, she can see the beauty of all the long and difficult trials of life. She can now truly see His unfailing love for her.
Can you understand how He could allow the trials in your life? Because He knows the struggles will temper you and conform you more to His image. We have heard it said, “God cares more about our conversion than our comfort.” This is true.
* These are not their real names. “An excellent wife is a crown of her husband, but she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones” (Prov. 12:4).
When trials come our way, when things happen that we just don’t understand, it’s easy to whine and complain, and to question God. In fact, we’re in good company when we cry out to God. If you read the Psalms every day you will see that David often cried out to God. What David did, that most of us do not, is that he pulls himself back to God in short order. He acknowledges that God knows what is best, that God always takes care of Him, etc. Then he starts praising God. He had learned a secret that would help all of us: when things go wrong, when we are in trouble, when we don’t know what to do, when it seems like EVERYTHING has come against us and life is just too hard, go ahead and call out to God, cry out to Him, tell God everything, then – THEN – start rehearsing all the ways God has taken care of you in the past. And finally, start praising God.
For example: You lost your job, you don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills, then the car breaks down, then the fridge breaks down and you not only need another fridge, but you also need to replace all the food that was lost, the rent is coming due and you know you’re landlord will not let you slide even a day. The kids are fighting and you’ve just about had it. You’re at your wits end. What do you do?
Well, many would either curl up in a ball and cry, or lash out at people close to them, or tell everyone they know about their problems. But God says, “Come unto ME ALL you who are weary and heavy laden and I WILL give you rest.” So, go to Him. Lay it ALL there at His feet. Say, “Lord Jesus, Father God, I have these problems and I need you to intervene. I need you to help me. If there is anything I need to do, anything I need to confess, tell me that, too. I want to be right with You and do Your will always. I KNOW you can fix everything. I know that you can supply ALL my needs according to Your riches in glory. Your Word promises that. You have been there for me in the past, like the time {now state some times that God was there for you, when He got you through} and I believe that you can get me through this, too. I don’t see how, but I know you have it all figured out. Whatever lessons I need to learn, if there be any wicked way in me, reveal that to me right now. I love You, Lord. I trust you. I praise your Holy Name. I think you in advance for taking care of all of this. I think you for giving me peace. I thank you that you are restoring my joy. {Now just keep thanking and praising Him, reiterating your belief and trust in Him and His ability to see you through.} You may want to end with singing. How does that one song go, “I could sing of you love forever…” No matter how bad it seems right now, God loves you and will take care of you – IF you let Him do it His way.
I know things may be tough. BELIEVE ME, I have been through some tough times, some REALLY tough times. But God, yes my God, has always made a way of escape. He has always seen me through. I pray that whatever you are facing, God will see you through and you will come out stronger and more like Jesus when the trial(s) are done. A pastor years ago used to say, repeatedly, “A tea bag is of no use until it gets in a little hot water.” It is when we successfully navigate our trials and temptations that we grow.
I pray also that God will bring ONE lady to come along side you to pray with you, to believe with you. Someone who will help lift you up when you feel too weary to go another step or when your faith seems to waiver. Pray that God will bring that perfect person into your life. Mine came in a VERY unusual way. God sent her to me and told her things even before I knew. She would be stopped from whatever she was doing at times to fast and pray for me, not even knowing what was going on. She just knew she had to stop and pray. Fourteen years later, even though we live hours away now and hardly ever see each other, she will still be pressed by God when things are going on in my life. Then she will email or text and say, “Hey girlie, you’re on my heart. What’s going on? How can I pray for you?” What a beautiful servant of God. Her friendship and concern is very much appreciated here by me. I know her bigger reward is waiting until she gets to heaven because she doesn’t let anything detour her from hearing and responding to the nudges of the Holy Spirit concerning me, even when I was a total stranger.
God bless you, sisters.
