Hello, readers!
I'm sorry it has been a while since I have last written. Honestly, I have had a rough semester, and while God has answered my prayers and has been very faithful, I wanted to keep them to myself.
But today, I want to do a post about trials. For everyone, there is always something that hinders us from wanting to succeed. There is always that one thing that makes us not acceptable in society. We all struggle with our behavior towards one another, or we may have a disability that we cannot control. Once we realize we have no control over our lives, we feel hopeless. I'm sure we have all felt this way at some point.
In the Bible, it talks about the trials of the Christian life. Once people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, God warns us that living for Christ is not easy. In fact, there will be many sufferings along with it. But how so? When I accepted Christ as my Savior two years ago, I was put through many trials, and will continue to be put in trials for the rest of my life. We go through trials because God wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the only being to be perfect and sinless. Therefore, to become more like Him, we need to be put through struggles and hard situations in order to get rid of our sin, for we only learn from our mistakes.
Here is a verse that puts this into perspective:
1 Peter 5: 10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."
We go through trials and rough times because God wants us to be strong, firm in our faith, and constantly looking to Him for guidance.
I write this blog because I'm having a really hard time this semester playing horn. My jaw has never been in this much pain before, and I'm seriously considering dropping my performance degree, and have been thinking about quitting horn all together, forever. I can't handle all of the playing anymore and I can't practice anymore. But, there is good news. God is faithful, and always answers prayers. He has given me the strength this semester to get through every single performance, ranging from a five minute performance to an hour. And when we conquer our rough times in Christ, God gives us a promise.
James 1: 12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
No matter how much we are hurting or how we are feeling hopeless, there IS hope! God promises life forever with Him in heaven, as long as we persevere through the trial and love Him. Isn't that something to look forward to? I sure think it is. So don't lose hope! Because there is a reward for persevering through trials.
Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
I'm sorry it has been a while since I have last written. Honestly, I have had a rough semester, and while God has answered my prayers and has been very faithful, I wanted to keep them to myself.
But today, I want to do a post about trials. For everyone, there is always something that hinders us from wanting to succeed. There is always that one thing that makes us not acceptable in society. We all struggle with our behavior towards one another, or we may have a disability that we cannot control. Once we realize we have no control over our lives, we feel hopeless. I'm sure we have all felt this way at some point.
In the Bible, it talks about the trials of the Christian life. Once people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, God warns us that living for Christ is not easy. In fact, there will be many sufferings along with it. But how so? When I accepted Christ as my Savior two years ago, I was put through many trials, and will continue to be put in trials for the rest of my life. We go through trials because God wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the only being to be perfect and sinless. Therefore, to become more like Him, we need to be put through struggles and hard situations in order to get rid of our sin, for we only learn from our mistakes.
Here is a verse that puts this into perspective:
1 Peter 5: 10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."
We go through trials and rough times because God wants us to be strong, firm in our faith, and constantly looking to Him for guidance.
I write this blog because I'm having a really hard time this semester playing horn. My jaw has never been in this much pain before, and I'm seriously considering dropping my performance degree, and have been thinking about quitting horn all together, forever. I can't handle all of the playing anymore and I can't practice anymore. But, there is good news. God is faithful, and always answers prayers. He has given me the strength this semester to get through every single performance, ranging from a five minute performance to an hour. And when we conquer our rough times in Christ, God gives us a promise.
James 1: 12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
No matter how much we are hurting or how we are feeling hopeless, there IS hope! God promises life forever with Him in heaven, as long as we persevere through the trial and love Him. Isn't that something to look forward to? I sure think it is. So don't lose hope! Because there is a reward for persevering through trials.
Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
