One Step at a
Time
By Sarah Walker
By Sarah Walker
In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various
trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - - more precious than
gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - - may be found to result in
praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
God
doesn’t run from pain and suffering. His desire is for healing and for peace,
but that doesn’t mean that He will go out of His way to ensure we avoid the
pain, suffering or hard times in our lives. If we fight Him, we may find ourselves
in an even harder position - - fighting both God and our circumstances. But if
we let Him, He will use the hardship to refine us, to purify us, to sanctify us…to
make us more like Jesus.
On His
journey to the cross, Jesus saw the path ahead and went straight through the
pain, the betrayals, the suffering, the humiliation, the death. And then He
rose from the dead! He redeemed all mankind so that we now have a way to God!
How
many times in our own lives are we asked to go through trials before the
victory? The sickness before the new birth. The isolation and loneliness before
a true friendship or a spouse. The tears before the joy.
We are
not asked to cheerfully look forward to these times - - just look at Jesus in
the garden before His arrest, sweating drops of blood. We are, though, asked to
submit to God’s will…whether we see the end prize or not. Will we trust Him
even in that moment? And then, when He’s proven His faithfulness, will we
remember and commemorate those trials for the lasting fruit created through
them? [1]
We
don’t need to race through the hardships, skipping and laughing along the way.
No, we are meant to entrust ourselves to God. Let Him lead…and then move
forward…one step at a time. God is faithful. He will provide.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
In which circumstances has God asked you to trust Him fully?
What does taking one step at a time with Him mean for you today?
2.
What lasting fruit have you seen from past trials in your life?
Make a list and thank God for His faithfulness.
FURTHER
READING:
Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their
two young sons. She and Scott co-lead a summer/winter neighborhood small group.
[1]
Luke 22:42-44
