Tests

"There is cause for joy, then, even though you may, for a time, have to suffer many trials. Thus will your faith be tested, like gold in a furnace. Gold, however, passes away but faith, worth so much more, will bring you in the end praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears." - 1st Peter 2:6-7

I spent the day thinking to myself that it's so ironic that yesterday I wrote about having the attitude of a conqueror because God gives us strength, yet today, I had trouble keeping that mindset. I had a horrible day today. I can't really find a place to feel relaxed and at peace except here right now with God. I'm stressed at home and I'm stressed at work. In my mind, I feel attacked from all corners. I know that God will work it all out for me and everything will be ok, but I have no clue how things will get there. This is the struggle of faith; the testing of gold in the furnace. In instances like this, I am being tested. It's so easy for me to write these verses every night and not actually put these into practice, but I do and it's hard. Being on this path is long and arduous, but like Peter says, this faith, when finally carried through, will bring me glory and I want to please my Lord Jesus Christ.

So I sit here right now, trying to find peace and balance, not knowing why all this is happening, but knowing it will be ok…some day. And I'm not mad at God and I won't complain and say that He's abandoned me, because He hasn't. I'm not even going through 5% of what Peter, Paul, John, or Stephen went through, but at least I know that my faith has made it through this far and through His grace it will go further.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I don't know where my trials will lead and sometimes it's so hard to keep positive and hold on to Your teachings. Help me stay firm. Help me to always keep my reward before me. In Your Name we pray, amen.