James 1: 2-8
How often God removes our shackles in the
furnace of affliction. (Streams
in the Desert-April 2)
A few days ago,
Judy sited this line from a daily devotional. As we travel through this week’s
reading on doubt and trials I believe it’s worth repeating and internalizing.
James, the brother of Jesus began the book of James by asking
us to consider it pure joy to face trials and that the testing of our faith
develops perseverance.
I know a couple that suffered a tremendous loss when their teenage daughter took her own life about seven years ago. Before this event, the entire family was connected and involved in their church. After all the formalities were taken care of and the funeral was behind them, the mother of the teen developed intense bitterness and refused to attend church. She was angry with God for taking her child and to this day she bears the burden only the Lord can remove. Her husband, on the other hand chose to use the pain to persevere and become mature and complete in the Lord. I see him regularly worshiping, maturing, sharing, and glorifying God with no doubt what so ever. He is a true man of God despite his experience in the furnace of affliction. He has allowed God to remove his shackles.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6
God offers to turn the pain we experience into something positive, but without Him the Bible offers no assurance that our pain will serve any good purpose.
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