Building strong relationships sometimes takes perseverance through tough stuff. Last Sunday Matt gave some helpful insights for growing beyond the trials and getting to the good stuff on the other side. Listen here.
Message notes:
Scriptures:
James 1: 2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 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.
Jesus said in John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message Bible)
Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process with glory just around the corner.
When you are thinking of quitting on any relationship, consider these 5 questions:
1) Have I remembered that perseverance produces character?
Our wrestling and trials, our difficulties, is never a problem. The problem is that we might throw in the towel and say to God, “Forget it. It is not worth it.”
Nelson Mandela “The greatest glory in living is not in not falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
If we want to become a godly person, full of character, we need to persevere in hard times
2) Have I asked God what I should do?
Pray and ask for guidance.
3) Have I got input from wise people?
Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
4) Are you breaking a commitment?
We all need to consider what sort of person we are becoming.
5) Can you hang in for longer?
Because perseverance produces character.