“How did that grow there?”
In my hurried state, perhaps I have stepped over some weeds and neglected to confirm their existence. But that doesn’t mean they are not there. – Shelly @ Is that You, Lord?

My hurried state….

I had been there for some time.

Running …. not paying attention to what was growing.

Neglecting…. what needs much attention within.

My garden overgrown.

We all have weeds and we all neglect them at some point.

Maybe life “feels” good and we rush on forgetting to attend to the little things.

these little things….

hurt

anger

pain

distress

I have been seeing these things a little different, not that I have figured it out but I am getting a glimpse of selfishness in me.

We all rail within at some point about our RIGHTS.

Maybe we say “WHY ME?”

or “THAT’S NOT FAIR!”

or “ DON’T TREAD ON ME!”

I was talking to a sweet lady from church that I have grown to love and she told me a story about how a friend of hers told her years ago when she was dealing with some painful things that she doesn’t have any rights…

NO RIGHTS! ….I pondered that with much internal disagreement but then God broke through with truth…

 

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

SUFFER: to undergo or feel pain or distress, to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss

IF we suffer…it is the idea of — in case it happens, or on the condition that it happens –

IF you suffer…

it is almost as if we are being asked to ALLOW it…

ALLOW it – you mean “lay down my life …my rights” ??

Like Jesus did.

YES…

Hard to swallow but true

How many of us would lay down our lives like he did, being spat upon, railed on, lied about, beaten, defamed, and so much more? He took it all upon himself – for us. What little compared to Him, we actually have to go through.

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Why suffer?

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

It is to show the genuineness of our faith!

It is to PROVE that JESUS is our KING!

That we TRUST HIM……like He trusted GOD even unto death. To work OBEDIENCE into us. To yield LOVE from our gardens. Making us SALT of the earth.

Maybe that is why it says in

James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be put to the test. You know that when that happens it will produce in you the strength to continue.  The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need.

Like Jesus!

Lord…help me!!

I’m NOT there!

But I am humbled in the light of the WORD.

STARLA