No Pain ~ No Gain

Last Sunday we started attending a small groups Bible study at Pastor Craig's house. Currently this small group is approximately 20 people but by Christmas we will break up into smaller groups. The study is on the Book of James and this week we reviewed 3 passages:

James 1: 2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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.

1 Peter 1:5-7

Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I feel like tonight's study was just for me (I'm sure everyone in the room felt that way). Through all my trials one thing is for sure, when I needed God to show up, He did. I must have a lot of perseverance to produce and character to build because he keeps throwing me the trials. I do know He will not put on me more than I can handle and my faith and hope does grow stronger with each suffering. My hope is that if you are reading this, it helps you understand the grief and trials in your life. Please realize that they will not last forever....so be joyful in sorrow....be thankful in grief.....hope and God's love will be there in the end.

I will always have faith, hope and love.