Even on difficult days, I have chosen to operate my life from a place of priorities. I am a child of the Most High King. Even in these days, where life requires much more energy, I am still a child of God. This is what drives me through rainy weather and helps me to put brakes on unwholesome decisions.
And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty (2 Cor. 6:18).
As a Christian, someone who has been given their spiritual rebirth by the blood of Jesus Christ, I want to still be able to glorify God by continuing to live out my faith. As I undergo difficult life moments, God is reminding me of the pruning work He is doing.
God is taking the unfruitful layers of my life, like pride and self-sufficiency, and causes me to bear fruit, like love and kindness, that will draw others to Him.
In John 15, we are reminded of two things: abiding in Jesus and being pruned by the heavenly Father as proof we are His (see John 15:1-4; Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus Christ thinks we are worthy of His love and to be continually worked on, because He loves us (see Heb. 12).
Even while we were His enemies, because of our sin, Jesus Christ died on the cross, rose again, and carried us to the Father to have our relationship restored.
I love the “feel good” aspects of being pruned, which is the spiritual fruit that grows in this famine season. Being pruned and hanging on for dear life is difficult, but the benefits make it a bit easier. Even so if I have my chance for a different life, I just might take it.
The Goal –
The goal I have is to act like a daughter of the King.
I want to be a light to the world, and not cause another to be hindered. I want others to see Jesus in me, and to protect my relationships from hurtful words spoken in the midst of suffering.
Being able to act like I belong to Christ is the greatest achievement there is, and it is something only Christ can accomplish in us! It requires us to draw near to Jesus, and keep growing in our relationship with Him. As a result, we become like Him. We become more loving, patient, and yes self-controlled. We act differently, in spite of our temptations and suffering.
When our goal is to continue in our relationship with Jesus, fruit of being His sons and daughters will bloom throughout our lives.
God can help us to act like Him, even in the midst of dark days. We may find ourselves in the midst of temptation and suffering, but we can overcome the opportunities to do evil – choosing to do good instead.
We may not overcome as gracefully as we’d like, but God is working on our behalf and displaying His power in our lives. At the end of the day, He is all that matters!
{{PSST: One of the most encouraging aspects of this blog is the trials section (or here). Get ready for whatever the Lord brings. When God is orchestrating it, things turn out very good}}
Featured image by Zac Durant.
Until next time,
Gracefully Overcoming 
2 responses to “The Goal in Trials”
Great post, Stacey!
At the moment physical circumstances are flogging me to death, and I feel like nothing but God’s red-headed stepchild…but no matter what, it’s my job to keep the faith, and to hold up my end of the Bargain of the Cross.
Jesus could have abandoned me. He didn’t. So I’ll stick it, for Him, even unto death.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/04/your-dying-spouse-295-patient-pride.html
Praying for you, Andrew. So sorry for your circumstances. Please just know you have brothers and sisters in Christ who care and are keeping you in prayer. Ever since I became sick, I have love the imagery behind Exodus 17:12 – where Aaron and Hur physically hold up Moses’ hands when he grows weary. We need that, as believers. Friends who will keep encouraging us and pray on our behalf . . I have been experiencing days, where “keeping the faith” is hard to do. Writing always helps me to – make sure He is my focus.