9/6/14 another sleepless night

I find myself once again writing this in the wee small hours of the morning as sleep has again eluded me. Unfortunately there is often quite a gap between what we know as truth and what we successfully walk out day by day or night by night.

James 1:2-4New American Standard Bible (NASB)

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I am just not there yet. Even though I know and trust the truth of this verse and I look forward believing in the outcome, its perfect result, that I may be perfect, lacking in nothing. I still don't seem to be able to count it all joy when I encounter various trials. No, rather I tend to wait until I have come out on the other side experiencing God's blessing and provision before I truly come to joy. Yet God calls me to come to that place of joy in the trial. I know that the key to that is that there is still some of this carnal nature alive in me. If I had truly crucified the flesh there would be nothing left in me to feel hurt, to worry, nothing to be offended or nothing of myself to defend. James does offer hope though as he continues;

James 1:12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹² Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

God knows we will struggle in our times of trial, yet He blesses our perseverence not our perfection. Ours is to perservere, the work of perfection is His.

This brings to mind a similar passage Paul shares in Romans;

Romans 8:28-29New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

We need to understand both what this says and what it does not say. It says in this verse that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God. It does not say that God causes all things. There are trials and difficulties we face that are consequences of our own actions or decisions. There are trials and difficulties we face that are the result of other peoples decisions or actions and there are some trials that are simply a consequence of our living in a fallen world. Yet even though God has not caused those things, He will cause them to work together for our good. There are many circumstances we face in which it is hard to see how any good could possibly come of it. The good is what Paul states in verse 29, that we are being conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. Jesus offered Himself to be crucified, allowing His mortal body to die, God raised Him up restored and perfect. As we day by day, trial by trial perservere and allow God to work in us, to perfect us, to conform us into the image of the risen Christ we are changed from glory to glory.

I am not there yet, but by His grace I am closer today than I was yesterday and as I yield to Him I'll be closer still tomorrow.

Thank you heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit for walking with me and working in me to transform and conform me. Your grace truly is sufficient and your mercy and provision is complete. By your grace may I be closer each day to counting it joy when I encounter trials.