January 19, 2001
Today's glimpse comes after a glance back at a week filled with trial, challenge & learning. In retrospect I have grown much but it has not been easy. It started after a lesson on Sunday night about persevering and changing continually. Among other things we were encouraged from James 1 not to avoid challenges but to embrace them, trials are pure joy because they refine my faith and help me to mature in Christ. Little did I know then all that my week held for me, actually it's a good thing I didn't know in advance! The moments were hard.. I haven't learned to feel joy in the middle of the trials yet, I don't know what it takes but I'm most certainly not there yet!! But I am learning the value of allowing trials to mold me, to persevere through them, to allow God to lead me down the path I need to go and in light of that I read the this verse...
"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage."
I can see that when my heart's focus is to follow Jesus, to be my best for God, my life will be a pilgrimage, a journey of sorts.. then and only then am I really happy... my strength comes from him and my heart is determined to follow, no matter where it may lead! In perfect faithfulness God leads me through my challenges, they aren't easy but he never leaves me alone. I can take confidence that I'm never thrown in the water to fend for myself... my challenges are tailor made, by the gentlest of hands and despite how tough they may be they are designed to set me up for victory and even greater growth!
"You give me your shield of victory,
your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not turn."
Psalm 18:34-36
Next Glimpse
Previous Glimpse
Jeannine's Home Page