“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” James 1:12
I just read a blog I posted some time back. Man it hit me so hard. I have been going through one of the hardest trials in my life and have forgotten how to practice enduring until God has done what He needs to do to get His glory out of the trial.
BLESSED
Consider the very fact that you are in a trial is the very evidence that you are divinely positioned in the will of God. Often times we look for signs and prophetic words to give us evidence that we are in the will of God. I believe that God does give signs and uses men and women in a prophetic manner but often times the most powerful evidence we have that we are divinely positioned in the perfect will of God is that all hell is breaking loose against us. The very evidence of trial and affliction is the evidence that God is divinely at work in our lives. The apostle James considered the man who was in the midst of affliction and trials as a man that is blessed and loved by God. I guess at this point in my life I am extremely blessed and loved by God.
ENDURETH
The dictionary defines the word endure as, “To undergo (as hardship) especially without giving in: to suffer without giving in.” It is one thing to understand the definition of endure and another thing to understand God’s spiritual purpose for allowing affliction and hardship in our lives. The revelation is this, “God allows us to endure things that are often to hard to bear so that He would bring glory out of our tribulation”. God will literally strip us and chastise us to prove to us that He is the one in control, that He is the one that blesses, that He is the provision, that He is the source of our joy, our peace, our strength and if anything ever gets in the way of that and begins to take credit for who He is and what He does He will strip us of it.
ENDURING
Enduring isn’t a pleasant thing to undergo in our christian lives but it is God’s divine tool for forming us and chastising us. It is the very evidence that God is at work in us. The funny thing about enduring is that you cannot run from it and the reality is that if you do try to run from it you can often times extend the timeframe for which you must endure. It is hard to endure, it is hard to undergo God’s chastening, ” No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). Enduring is painful, it hurts, it often times is confusing because we have so many questions which go unanswered by God during the time of affliction. But regardless it is the divine evidence that you are in the perfect will of God. We must all stubbornly or peaceably learn to endure while God is at work in our lives.
HE SHALL RECEIVE
What a promise! James says that the man that endureth shall receive. We might not receive what what we want but we shall recieve what God had intended. There is not a man or woman alive who can stop the perfect will of God in your life when you come into a place of complete surrender and trust to God. Someone told me recently, ” You cant reason with God” that is so true. We often times in the affliction try to reason, to bargain or deal with God. We give Him the big “IF” if I endure this will you give me what I desire, if I stick around will you bless me with what I want, that is not trusting God during your time of affliction. To trust God is to say, God I hope yet I dont hope, I want yet I dont want, I wish yet I dont wish. In other words whatever the outcome of this enduring my heart will be content with your perfect provision in my life. To trust God is to honestly say, “God I leave it all in your hands whether it seems to work in my favor or not, I will trust that your provision is perfect and far better than what I could have planned or desired for myself. The promise is clear that once you have endured you shall receive Gods intended provision for your life.
PRAISE HIM IN THE PAIN
Praise Him in the pain, because one day the pain will end but the praise will have been stored up in heaven as treasure. Praise Him in the confusion because one day the confusion will end. Praise Him when you have no answer because one day He will give you an answer. Praise Him in the discipline because one day the discipline will end. Praise Him because you shall receive. Praise Him because the prophet said, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
MY FAVORITE QUOTE
“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you’ve been through” Wintley Phipps
© 2009 Apostolic Messenger
PERSPECTIVE 
One of my favorite verses is from Psalm 119~It is good that I have been afflicted that I might learn Thy statutes. It really helped me out of the pit years ago! Anyway, so sorry you’re going through trials, but sooo thankful for the depth of sharing it has inspired! It will surely be of encouragement and admonishment amongst the brethren. ~smile~ Prayers going up on your behalf! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
P.S. My darling agrees and always says that when hard times come it must mean you’re doing something right to get the devil so riled up! LOL!
Daniel, long time no read!
I was just looking over some old posts and rediscovered your link…
I pray the Lord comfort you throughout the trial.
He will see you through to the end , my brother.
Grace to you, In Christ!
Another point on the word “Endureth” that I think you’ll find interesting is that
the Greek form of the word in James 1:12 is 3rd person singular, Present-Active (Indicative verb). So it’s a continuous action in the present tense. In other words, it’s not talking only about should we face trials, but as we currently are “enduring” them.
Also, some other definitions for “Endureth” (according to the Greek) are:
hold out, stand firm, bear, put up with, undergo, and remain (also “stay behind”, but I don’t see that fitting in with the context). And if you compare this with 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (NRSV)
So as we’re currently suffering, if we stand firm during our time of testing, and stand the test, then we’ll receive the reward which was promised to those of us who love Him. And also in this suffering (1 Cor.10:13), it’s good to remember that we’re not alone in it, for not only have and are others going through something similar, but God is also with us in our suffering, leading us through it.
Pretty awesome!
Hey, if you’ve got the chance, I’d like to invite you to check out my new site. It’s called “Dear Pastor Andy” (http://dearpastorandy.blogspot.com/) and is Christian Apologetics based with a Q&A format. I really think you’ll like it.
I’d like to invite you to check out my new site. It’s called “Dear Pastor Andy” (http://dearpastorandy.blogspot.com/) and is Christian Apologetics based with a Q&A format. I really think you’ll like it.
Wow- You need to share more often!
Just thought of you, as you’ve not posted in a looong while. Hope you are well~there’s a prayer on my heart with your name on it! 🙂 (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Great blog, bro! Not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear.