When God wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight but when he wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process. Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither you are not where you used to be. God isn't finished with you, either, so keep on moving forward. Even the snail reached the ark by persevering. Rick Warren
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
Have you ever met someone and sincerely say to yourself, "I see Christ in her, Christ is magnified in her life." I met different kinds of people in my profession and the ministry, and there are few of them show and live the sacrificial love of Christ, who live in faith and walks in obedience. They never fail to amuse and inspire me; it's as if I've met Christ through them, and despite all the hardships they have faced, they still have a heavenly mind.
Persevere because it builds trust. Be patient and establish your heart.
We each have distinct goals and callings, but as followers of Christ, we are encouraged to imitate Him. As I get older, I'm continually in awe of how God works. It is simple to be dissatisfied, discouraged, and dismayed anytime you glance around and if trials confront you. But the good news is that we have this battle plan that has withstood the test of time. His letters serve us reminders in any season we are in; God's Word, the Bible. It's true that the more you read someone else's tale, the more you get to know the author; similarly, the more you read the Bible, the more you get to know God and the more you love Him.
I love reading books. It widens my perspectives on life, and it feels like you are conversing with different people and learning from their stories. But you know when you read God's Word, you will have His wisdom. You will have the answers to these questions, "How does He think? How does He work? How does He love?
Can you imagine? Though the Bible was written thousand years ago but until now it can change a life, it can break false beliefs, it can give you peace, and it can transform you into a new being and give you a life full of meaning even in the midst of trials.
Those people who magnified Christ in their lives always said that on their own, they won't endure life's struggles, but the grace of God carries them to walk according to His Word and not in the world's perspectives of what is right and wrong. They just learn to persevere and trust the One who knows everything, the One who already endured all the suffering at the cross, the One who resurrected from death for us to have eternal life and a life full of purpose.
When you face trials, others might scorn you and make you dwell in self-pity, but the Bible tells you to be joyful. Consider it pure joy because it produces perseverance and what is the result? You may be mature, complete, and not lacking anything. How ironic, right? Do you want to be complete, mature, and enough? Surely, He will give you trials and suffering because when everything is in your hands, you can control everything. If you are on your own, and you will never learn to trust Him fully in your life. You won't persevere to know Him more, love Him more, and trust Him more. Thus trials and suffering test your faith.
Do you want to be a mushroom or to be a giant oak?
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
