and he will trample down our enemies.
Valiant is defined as: boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted. In Hope for Each Day Billy Graham uses the NAS version and writes, “there are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply get rid of the trial and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had.”
Stay with me here…a little background…my job will be eliminated at the end of the semester due to lack of funding. Therefore, I am job hunting and have tweaked my resume and cover letter several times. Currently, when I am talking about what I can bring to a company, my cover letter states, “the ability to view challenges as opportunities.” Hmm…I can view a challenge at work as an opportunity, but I am struggling to view challenges in my life as opportunities for God to bless me? For me to grow? Am I serious? Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:13 that “God is faithful” and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. The Message states that verse like this: “God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”
If He is faithful, if He will never let me down, if He is there to help me through my trials, then I need to learn to view my trials as opportunities…opportunities for growth…to grow in my faith and to grow in my relationship with Him. Afterall, if I can begin to recognize my trials as challenges and opportunities…who knows? It might be a great experience!
Lord, again, I am asking for the courage to let it all go and let you take over. To let go of my trials and worries, to grasp the promise that you will never leave me and that you will not push me beyond my limit. So, as I see, what I perceive to be the limit approaching, I am asking for courage…courage to believe, courage to cling and courage to leave…believe the promise you made, cling to the promise you made and to leave my burdens with you, in your capable hands. Lord, I am beginning to feel the burden lift from my heart…I have been working on this for weeks! Thank you for the glimpse of relief that I am feeling. Thank you for my family, my friends and the trials you send my way. The trials that are opportunities for growth. Thank you, Lord, for all of it. And thank you again for the gift of your Son.
If you are still with me…thank YOU. Do you ever wonder if I am losing it? How about you? Can you view your trials as opportunities for growth? It is a tough lesson to embrace! At least it is for me!!
If you have not visit Ann today, I found her post very moving.
Have a wonderful day…
Thanks for your inspiration today. Lots to think about and pray on. And thanks for the link to Ann's. I hadn't visited her for awhile. Beautiful post. Makes me want to hug my hubby. He's gone to work but he'll get a big hug tonight when he gets home. And some nice warm dinner waiting for him on the table. Thanks again!