Paul Bayne Business Owner, Husband and Father of Four Kids & Blogger

James 1

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (trials and tests);

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

This passage among others tells us to be happy when the hammer of affliction falls in our lives.

Why? Because suffering and affliction brings out characteristics that would otherwise be hidden. Those traits bring God glory. A fat, lazy rich man who has never seen one iota of suffering will be the most shallow and 1 dimensional person around. 

Trials place life in perspective. Trials give us scope and make us appreciate what we have.

Trials push us to God (or at least that's what should happen), and they make us dependent on God for His power and peace to go through them.

Trials keep us in the proper place in life and keep us from being puffed up. Remember Paul and his thorn? It was given to him to keep him humble.

Remember, God resists and fights against the proud, so be happy when trials come your way and embrace them. They are for your good.

So, yes, we should be happy when rains falls in our lives. It is a change to grow, and mature.

November 08 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

mary h

Everyone in this world will have some sort of pain and suffering in their lives. The difference between those who believe in God and other people is we can ask God our father to give us the strength to go through it. Just as God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus when he prayed in the garden before he was crucified, we have a living, present father to turn to. 

If we believe Him, He helps us when we are in need. But we will all suffer at some point in our lives. When my brother died, I was broken from my heart outwards. He was only 34. I was in tremendous pain and I couldn't bear it. I prayed and with all my heart begged God to help me. I sat there in such a sad state. 

Then I felt this feeling--the only way I can describe it is as if a hand went into my heart and pushed down the pain a bit. (Like turning down the heat on a fire when it's too hot). I still suffered and was still in pain, but I could take it. I know God strenghtened me and helped me. I am so very blessed that he would even look at me. He is such a loving God!

November 08 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report