Whatever we do in life takes practice to get good at. For those striving to be in a marathon or the Olympics they have to train daily. Someone who wants to be a medical doctor has to study years and years and then still it is called 'practicing medicine' because they are always learning. To master cooking a chef goes to culinary school to learn the skills of the trade and has to keep at it to master it. A cake decorator works on decorating cakes over and over til they look professional. I have made baskets before and it takes weaving them over and over before you would get good enough to sell them in a gift shop. A pilot is first a student then at times becomes an instructor and eventually a co pilot before assuming command of the aircraft as Captain. He or she has to train under many difficult circumstances to master aviation skills. In the military, troops train by leaping walls, running, crawling under barbed wire, firing weapons and all sorts of other things to get ready for battle and to become disciplined. A police officer has to train to stay physically fit in order to go after criminals.
A Christian is practicing daily too. Going through things in life that can make him more Christlike. The Christian walk is not without trouble. Jesus said in his word in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In James 1:2-4 it says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 1 Peter 1:7 says "so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." In Psalm 66:10 it says "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver."
It is going through things that we get stronger and often times the things we go through help prepare us for helping others get through hard times. We are not supposed to be comfortable Christians with no problems. Strength comes from work. In a gymnasium you work out and lift weights in order to get stronger. At first it is hard but it gets easier as progress is made. A potter takes a lump of clay and in order to form a new pot tosses the clay around and smacks it over and over til they get the finished beautiful results. Isaiah 64:8 says "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." These things we go through are a practice of sorts for preparing for God's heavenly kingdom.
So as we go on our journey through life do not despair when trouble comes your way. Look at it as an opportunity to grow and become more like Jesus. Ask the Lord what He wants you to learn from the trial you are enduring. After all He suffered and died so that we might have life and have it more abundantly!
PRAYER: Father thank you that you help get me through the bad things of life and prepare for the good things. Help me to learn to give thanks in all circumstances as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Forgive me when I have complained and not trusted you to see me through whatever it is that I think is so bad in my life.I trust in you Lord .In Jesus Name. Amen!
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