So, if you're bundled up under the covers by the fire or blowing your nose and depressed, let's take a look at the future, after we're on the other side of this life.
Are you in a season of testing? Grief? How about financial desperation? There are all kinds of hard times, all kinds of tests, and we are sometimes less than gracious in reacting to them. Yes, we all should be saintly and turn to the Lord instantly, but most of us have moments of failure. I once had a client tell me, "I was so vicious last week, I didn't know if I had PMS or rabies!"
Of course God calls us to live lives of obedience and love. But if, under the pressures and demands of the past few weeks, you've slipped a time or two, I'm simply reminding you that our wonderful God still loves you, and his plans for you are still in place. Even if you snapped at someone you should not have, or felt less than charitable toward the relative who knows exactly the worst thing to say to you over the eggnog.
You may not feel like you're winning any awards for patience in your trials. What a blessing God promises a crown of life to those who love him, not only to the patient (who are going to be blessed). You have a crown awaiting you, my friend. If you have asked Jesus to come into your life and take control of it, you are promised eternity with him.
As painful as whatever you're going through is, it will eventually ease, and your love will be crowned by our faithful, eternal God. He knows your heart and your suffering, and he promises that there will be far more on the other side of it. You have the full attention of the God of the universe for the rest of time.
God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
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