Diving In

Someone told my Mom this past Sunday, (and my Mom told me) that trials and tribulations are put in our lives by God so that we may TURN to Him; so that we may RUN to Him. They are a reminder that He is THERE.

They knock us off our feet, off our thrones of self-righteousness and religious piety, and point us to the God who sent His Son to die for us! We have 2 choices when trials come: Run to God, or Run away from Him.

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Counting it joy when we meet trials of various kinds..that's HARD. In this case the word " joy" doesn't imply *happiness*. Happiness is an emotion we feel when something good happens, something that makes us feel "happy". Joy is something deeper. Joy is a peaceable happiness. It's a deep sense of the hope you have in Jesus Christ no matter what happens. That's JOY.

The best thing to do during trials is to dive into the Word of God! Your flesh naturally wants to turn away from God, and seclude yourself from everything, everyone; and from God. Your natural reaction is to close off the relationship with your Heavenly Father. You want to be alone. Even from the people you love, sometimes. Because it hurts, you're in pain, in agony you just want to be left ALONE.

But these trials are suppose to produce steadfastness in our faith. God is steadfast in His love for us. You can read that everywhere in the Psalms (and all over the Bible but esp. in the Psalms). He WON'T leave you. He won't forsake you. He HAS IT UNDER CONTROL. God's character overall is steadfast. He's unchangeable. He never goes back on His promises.

Diving into the word, praying like crazy, FEEDING YOUR SOUL, ARMING YOURSELF WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD (See Ephesians 6:11-and on) IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. We are at WAR with the demonic forces of evil! There is a real, real spiritual realm all about us. It is more real (someone said..) than this; than this physical world. We aren't up against flesh and blood, we're up against: " against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12b)

Dive in to the word, and prepare for battle.

As Lewis said: Relying on God must begin all over again..as if nothing had been done yet..

I don't know about you, but I'm diving in.

~Elisabeth Darcy