2 lies,
1. "If God really loved me..."
- pain, heart aches would be gone
- conditional love, rather than covenant love.
Truth: God's love is based on the cross.
2. "If I really loved God..."
- if my performance was better than I would feel better
Truth: God's love is tied to his person, not our performance
Why trials and struggles?
Consider (count, take logical account) it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3 NIV
- Don't let your emotions overwhelm you. Emotions focus on why. Logic looks at what. What is happening? Faith is being built, producing perseverance (steadfastness, resistance training exercises faith muscles).
- What is a trial? A divine appointment with someone who is adversarial. When someone curses you, bless them.
- Form fitted trail. Tailor made grace for every trial you face. Sickness, loneliness, relationships. These aren't caused by God but God uses trials to get us in "spiritual shape" Romans 8:28
- steadfastness means remaining under. Go the extra mile.
Trials are a scalpel wound by a physician rather than a knife wound from an enemy (Heb 4:12).
...for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (mature, able to finish the race)
James 1:3-4 ESV
Misunderstanding: Life of joy is free from life of trials. Hand of God is beating me down rather than building me up. Your faith is on trial, not you.
You know this (intelligence, Biblical understanding). If you know who God is and how God works you can count it pure joy when in a trial. Knowledge matters when were in a trial.
- God is always good, in control, all powerful, all knowing, pure/holy.
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