TRIALS ARE FOR OUR BENEFIT?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy
and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
(2 Corinthians 8:2)

MEDITATION:
A man watched a butterfly trying to emerge from a cocoon.
Thinking that he would help, the man took his pen knife
and slit the side of the cocoon and the butterfly flopped out.
It lay there for a while, feebly beating its wings, then collapsed and died.

You might be thinking, “How tragic!”
and you would be right, because God had a plan for that butterfly.
The struggle to break free would build the strength he would need to fly.
God doesn’t want us to live weakly and to die feebly.
He wants us to grow and mature.

The world wants to convince us to take the easy road at all times.
It encourages us to cleverly get others to do things for us.
It instills a pride in people that causes them to take more than they need.

However this is contrary to God’s plans for our lives.
He wants to strengthen us, and not to make us lackadaisical, lazy, and weak.
God also wants us to be identified by our generosity (to Him and to others).
Generosity to others can be shown in non-financial ways (time, concern, prayer, etc.).

God has plans for us that we must prepare to execute if we love Him.
We cannot expect success without preparation,
which can include going through some trials,
not designed to break us down, but to strengthen us for His tasks.
Only a loving God can show us the tough love we need in our lives.

ACTION:
Are you going through a tough time right now?
Find God’s wings in your trial today.
Strengthen your ‘wings’ by the promises in His Word,
and achieve new heights of freedom in Christ today!
Reject the evil one’s encouragement to embrace self-pity and discouragement.
Instead, cling to the One who loves you, and be thankful
for His involvement in your life, for the benefit of yourself and others.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing what is best for me. Thank
You for being with me during the tough times, and strengthening me
for the future, which includes Your plans for me. I am confident that
Your plans are good for me even though I might not be able to see their
benefits immediately. Give me the courage to follow through on Your
plans for me out of a thankful heart that trusts in You. Thank You for
loving me enough to be involved in my life and for creating specific
plans (good plans) for me!”

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