Tested and purified

You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You capture us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance. Psalm 66: 10-12 NLT

Psalm 66 both blames God for suffering yet gives God credit for the outcome.

I have been studying the book of James lately and have come to the understanding that God does not make us suffer in order to produce results. We suffer and God provides the opportunity to be molded in a different fashion by the end of what we are going through. We should see troubles as an opportunity to grow in our faith and endurance. This is what will produce full maturity in us.

Certainly there are times when God does not save us from suffering. In those times it is by God's help that we can come through better people. We go through fire and flood but God brings us to a place of great abundance. God never leaves us alone (God provides a leader) and God never forgets us.

God, you are always with me, even when I go through times of trouble and suffering. Help me to hang on to you and to endure so that I will be perfect in every way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims