A Peaceful Spirit

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  Ps. 112:6-8

So … what gets me from where I am to where God wants me to be?

Do not gratify the enemy by dwelling upon the dark side of your experience; trust Jesus more fully for help to resist temptation. If we thought and talked more of Jesus, and less of ourselves, we should have much more of His presence. If we abide in Him, we shall be so filled with peace, faith, and courage, and shall have so victorious an experience to relate when we come to meeting, that others will be refreshed by our clear, strong testimony for God. These precious acknowledgements to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christlike life, have an irresistible power, which works for the salvation of souls. The bright and cheerful side of religion will be represented by all who are daily consecrated to God. We should not dishonor our Lord by a mournful relation of trials that appear grievous. All trials that are received as educators will produce joy. The whole religious life will be uplifting, elevating, ennobling, fragrant with good words and works. { AG 184.4}

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  James 1:2-4 (NLT)

Wow!  This impacts me, particularly as I look at the way I react in difficult circumstances.

…our sea will not always be smooth. We shall have storm and tempest. But we are not to look upon these as something strange. Meeting difficulties is a part of our education, and is necessary to the formation of a strong, symmetrical character. And through trials we are to be purified and our faith strengthened. So James says, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” We do not always understand the meaning of our trials and difficulties; but in the future life we shall understand things that here greatly perplex us. We shall also realize how strong a helper we had, and how angels were commissioned to guard us as we followed the counsel of the Word of God. { SW April 28, 1908, par. 9 }

We say we want Jesus to come, but do we really?  Do we want to go through the refining process of fiery trials and heart work needed to fit us for our heavenly home?  Or do we pray for trials to go away, when they come on us?

Then come to Christ just as you are, weak, helpless, and ready to die. Cast yourself wholly on his mercy. There is no difficulty within or without that cannot be surmounted in his strength. All who choose can come to him and find the help they need. Some have stormy tempers. But he who calmed the stormy sea of Galilee will say to the troubled heart, “Peace, be still.” There is no nature so rebellious that Christ cannot subdue it, no temper so stormy that he cannot quell it, if the heart is surrendered to his keeping. Those who are overcome have only themselves to blame.

He who commits his soul to Jesus need not despond. We have an all-powerful Saviour. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we can say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

To all who receive him Christ will give power to become the sons of God. But do not think that the Christian life will be free from temptations. Temptations will come to every Christian. And there will be trials. Both the Christian and the one who does not accept Christ will have trials. The difference is that the latter is serving a tyrant, while the Christian is serving One who loved him, and gave himself for him. { SW April 28, 1908 }

May the trials you and I find ourselves in produce true joy in our hearts and spirit.  And may we do all we can to lift each others’ burdens.