Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: 1 Peter 1:3-12
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."
There is a quote I received the other day from friend in my e-mailbox. It reads:
I forget to see that this all happens with Gods permission. I keep on staring at the injustice which our country and people are suffering, but I forget that You bring Your trials on this earth because You deem this necessary, otherwise it would not have happened.
Teach me to see that this is You, who carries everything in Your strong hands, then I can even be happy knowing that You are fulfilling Your plans.
My friend explained that this quote came from young woman named Diet Eman, who was solely responsible for helping hundreds of Jews during the darkest hours of World War II. For over four years, she risked death on a daily basis to live out the call of God in her life. But a few soldiers under Hitlers command eventually found out about her underground work for the Jews and she was immediately placed in a Nazi concentration camp. Though she survived the camps horrendous living conditions, Diet realized that the Lord had brought her a great trial and that she could not allow her situation to affect her. Instead, she went on fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for many more years.
How do you respond when a friend or family member dies, or when divorce divides your family, or when your best friend suddenly forgets you exist and turns against you? How do you react when you are faced with challenges to your faith, a loss of your job and home, or any prolonged uncomfortable situation? I dont know about you, but it is comforting to me to think that no circumstance in this world--no matter how painful it might seem in the middle of it--is ever wasted. Each day provides new opportunities for God to bring good through even our worst experiences (Romans 8:28).
When hard times come your way, don't fret. Instead, pour out your heart to God. Have faith that He will use your hardships to make you more like Him. It is a good way for you to grow in your relationship with Jesus. It gets better with time.
Faith Lesson: "[Trials] 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."--1 Peter 1:7
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: 1 Peter 1:3-12
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."
There is a quote I received the other day from friend in my e-mailbox. It reads:
I forget to see that this all happens with Gods permission. I keep on staring at the injustice which our country and people are suffering, but I forget that You bring Your trials on this earth because You deem this necessary, otherwise it would not have happened.
Teach me to see that this is You, who carries everything in Your strong hands, then I can even be happy knowing that You are fulfilling Your plans.
My friend explained that this quote came from young woman named Diet Eman, who was solely responsible for helping hundreds of Jews during the darkest hours of World War II. For over four years, she risked death on a daily basis to live out the call of God in her life. But a few soldiers under Hitlers command eventually found out about her underground work for the Jews and she was immediately placed in a Nazi concentration camp. Though she survived the camps horrendous living conditions, Diet realized that the Lord had brought her a great trial and that she could not allow her situation to affect her. Instead, she went on fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for many more years.
How do you respond when a friend or family member dies, or when divorce divides your family, or when your best friend suddenly forgets you exist and turns against you? How do you react when you are faced with challenges to your faith, a loss of your job and home, or any prolonged uncomfortable situation? I dont know about you, but it is comforting to me to think that no circumstance in this world--no matter how painful it might seem in the middle of it--is ever wasted. Each day provides new opportunities for God to bring good through even our worst experiences (Romans 8:28).
When hard times come your way, don't fret. Instead, pour out your heart to God. Have faith that He will use your hardships to make you more like Him. It is a good way for you to grow in your relationship with Jesus. It gets better with time.
Faith Lesson: "[Trials] 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."--1 Peter 1:7
In Christ,
Darin Smith
