In my last journal entry I talked about weakness and how it has the potential to either lead us to strength, as we learn to lean on God, or it can lead us to strongholds, as we allow the devil to exploit our weakness.
In addition to weakness in our flesh, the bible lets us know that part of living in a fallen world is being placed occasionally in situations that are less than pleasant. Many people would call these situations trials or tribulations. We have all experienced one of some kind or another, but how are we to respond when the trial or tribulation shows up at our door?

God desires for us to respond in a positive way, looking for how the situation we are presently going through will move us into a deeper love and better understanding of Him. Listen to what Jesus says . . .

John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

We can look at our situation with peace because Jesus has overcome it. The word "overcome in the Greek refers to victory. In other words, in Jesus, no matter what we go through, we have promised victory. Because we have this promise of the victory, we don't have to sweat it out that we may not win. Jesus is saying, I have already won for you. You just have to finish the race! Be filled with peace and just finish the race. It is amazing the things God can do in you and through you, as you just trust in His peace through whatever you are going through.

The other way we can choose to respond in our trials and tribulations is to grow bitter. Bitterness starts out by asking the question, "Why me?" It is as if we are saying, I am above this trial. I don't deserve this. My neighbor? Yes, he deserves it, but not me. When a trial does come for this person, it normally is met with anger and resentment, which gone unchecked will lead to bitterness. This all stems from looking at the trial from the starting line, rather than from the finish line.

A great example of someone who got better instead of bitter while he went through a trial is David.

David was anointed by Samuel as king, to later replace disobedient King Saul. While he waited to take his position as king, David gets promoted from shepherd boy to court musician to armor bearer to giant killer to victorious army captain until Saul is enraged with jealousy. Finally Saul is determined to kill his rival and David fled from his honeymoon suite (with Saul's daughter no less) and runs from cave to cave for the next ten years.

It is in these years of intense struggle that David grew even more dependent on the Lord ("Lord, You are my shield, my fortress, my strong tower") and even more in love with Him. " O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." (See Psalm 63)

Our relationship with the Lord is either growing or declining and often the Lord knows trials are what we need to keep us from cooling off toward Him and becoming autonomous. But suffering can make us bitter or better - bitter toward God and life or better lovers of God and people. David grew more like our Lord in his trials, Who "learned obedience from what He suffered,"

Hebrews 5:8 - "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered."

And like Jesus, David waited patiently on God's timing to remove Saul although he had opportunities to take matters into his own hand.

God desires for you to see everything from His perspective at the finish line. Remember that in whatever you are currently going through, the promise that will keep you running strong is found in Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Take some time today to praise the Lord in the midst of what you are going through because you have already won!

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-Coach Jim