I want to encourage you today because many of us are currently facing trials and hardships in life. Rather we go face them secretly or openly, many of us are facing them. And if you are not currently facing trails and hardships, there is a good chance that you recently experienced them, or you are soon to experience them… just keep living.
2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Take with me your share of the hardships and suffering which you are called to endure as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reminds us that, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
In the words of my 3-year-old, “I’m still standing…”
My 3-year-old son, Scooter, loves the movie “Sing”. In the movie, Johnny the gorilla sings Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” and because my son watched the movie around the clock for months, I couldn’t help but find myself often singing, “I’m Still Standing.”
We face so much trouble in life that our daily anthem could easily be “Trouble in My Way.” The bible says, “…many are the afflictions of the righteous.” However, instead of focusing on the problems, I want to encourage you to focus on the Solution.
We must learn to persevere! Perseverance is steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
The Apostle Paul encourages us in the letter to the Church of Corinth with the words, “…my beloved brothers, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”
You may say, “But I cannot seem to catch a break Pastor Cooper; it seems to be trial after trial and test after test!”
“Don’t consider it strange,” says the bible concerning the fiery trials we face. These fiery trials are to try you, test, and prove your faith.
In the bible, “fire” is sometimes used as an image of destruction; however, it is also used to symbolize purity. Revelation 3:18 refers to gold refined in the fire. This fire that God allows in not meant to harm you, but to purify you, refine you. Refine??? Refine is to free something or to bring to a fine pure state.
In Daniel chapter 3 we read about the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were cast into the fire. I like to use the term, “Tired in the fire.” The fire that they were cast in did not consume them but proved them! Their faith was tested. In fact, what is faith lest it be proven. And how can it be proven if never tested?
This fire can be uncomfortable; however, it has a good purpose. It is often in the difficult times that our lives are refined, and we discover who we really are. C.H. Spurgeon said, “I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than anything else in my Lord’s workshop.”
We may be knocked down, but we are not knocked out. I’m still standing, and so are you!
God bless you, Pastor Cooper
– Adrian is a life-long Waxahachie native. He is the pastor of Waxahachie Life Church and the owner of Future Generations Christian Child Care Center. He is passionate about the youth in our communities, and believes that investing in them is investing in the future. He and his wife, Marquita are raising 4 handsome boys.
