ENDURING OR OVERCOMING?

There's no denying that we're bound to face trouble of one kind or another at sometime in our lives -- generally MANY times! After all, I Peter 4:12 (Living Bible paraphrase) says, "Dear friends, don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you." Peter doesn't say "if" the trials come; he says "when" they come! Nor is it strange or unusual for trials to occur.

The question we need to focus on is: How do we handle those trials when they come? Do we endure them, or do we overcome them? Because Christ has already overcome and defeated Satan, we, too, can overcome everything the enemy sends our way. And isn't he the force behind the majority of our problems? (Don't forget that we can also bring problems on ourselves, too!)

In Romans 5:3, 4, Paul says he "gloried" in tribulations! Can you imagine anybody "glorying" in their troubles? Why did Paul adopt such an attitude? I'll tell you why. (Read it for yourself.) It developed patience in his life for one thing. (Do you need more patience?) It enabled him to be victorious. (Don't you love the feeling of victory no matter what you're doing?) And lastly, he says it worked hope. (That's something we all need.) Let's learn to handle the hard places in our lives in the same manner as Paul did.

Maybe you're wondering how it's possible to find glory in troubles and trials. The glory is in overcoming our trials instead of buckling down and enduring them. Faith and patience, the power twins, if you please, will help us triumph over our difficulties. It's all in our attitude toward our problems.

How do you handle problems? Are you just an endurer or a victorious overcomer?

Preacher's Kid