Monday, November 1, 2021
Lord, when problems pile one on top of another, my carnal self wants me to sit in a corner, moaning, “Woe is me! What am I gonna do!” But Your Holy Spirit taps me on my shoulder and reminds me of Your wisdom in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet these [problems and trials] produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.” But Lord, there is emotional and sometimes physical suffering involved. That hurts and I don’t like that!
The Apostle Paul said in Romans five to rejoice when You allow problems bigger than we are to come along. These are allowed so You can develop more godly character in us, resulting in a greater confidence in Your power. Your Word says suffering produces perseverance, which develops our godly character. After being tested by these trials, as the goldsmith refines the gold by fire, You refine our character with eternal hope. And by Your grace sustaining our faith during these trials, we fulfill Second Corinthian 4:18 — “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
By Your grace, Lord, I will rejoice in my problems and trials, being assured You are working on my behalf. Amen.
THANKFUL 
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