A father wanted to teach his son the value of enduring trying times and difficult days. He placed three pots of water on the stove and brought them to a boil. In the first he placed several carrots. In the second he placed an egg. And in the third he placed some coffee grounds.
After a few moments he looked at his son and said, “John, these carrots went in hard and came out soft. This egg went in soft and came out hard. The coffee gave the water a new taste.”
When we are tested and tried, we need to look into the event as well as beyond the event. If an illness occurs or an accident happens because we have neglected to take care of ourselves, we need to change our behavior if we expect God to take care of us. If suffering or sickness occurs through no fault of our own, we can count on God’s grace to sustain and comfort us. Whatever comes into our lives brings with it an opportunity to grow into Christ likeness.
Suffering never leaves us where it finds us. It can either draw us closer to God or drive us further from Him. God gives us opportunities to grow up and become more like our Lord, or give in and live a life of despair and defeat.
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to break through the darkness of suffering and accept Your strength, hope and encouragement to grow into Your likeness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture: James 1:1-4
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