Life's Tests...

[AngelRose81]

Do any of you think that sometimes God puts a test before us so that we see that it is ok to fail at something? Or to see that we can’t do something?

I don’t mean that He does this maliciously, but simply to make those of us who don’t like to admit defeat be able to admit it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Strategery]

Do any of you think that sometimes God puts a test before us so that we see that it is ok to fail at something? Or to see that we can’t do something?

I don’t mean that He does this maliciously, but simply to make those of us who don’t like to admit defeat be able to admit it.

What are your thoughts?

I know he definitely has with me. I’ve perceived two reasons for the trial

• overcoming a fear of failure which was keeping me from stepping out in the faith (among other things)
• teaching me that I need to depend on Him, and not myself.

 

[ericka1701]

He had to with me, as well. I used to be very self-dependant and had quite a few trust issues. In my darkest times, I literally lost my mind, but it wasn’t until I completely was at that low was I able to finally admit I couldn’t do everything (well, anything, actually) on my own, and I allowed Him to pick me up. Since then, I’m been doing my best to completely follow His will… I fail miserably most of the time, but I am making the effort.

I think of Wisdom 3 when someone is going through a trial. Especially verse 5 and 6: “5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 6 like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.”

Ericka

 

[Trishie]

**“The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of trial and in the exultation after the combat.” “The most beautiful credo is that which comes from your lips in darkness, in sacrifice, in pain, in the supreme effort of an unbending will for good. It is this which, like a stroke of lightening, penetrates the darkness of the soul; it is this which in the flash of the tempest lifts you and leads you to God.” **(Saint Pio)

Suffering servant of God
Dear Jesus, as Suffering Servant [Isaiah 52-53] You accepted all human weakness and struggle in atonement for human sin. You obtained redemption for all who choose Your ways.

With You, I accept the gifts and burdens of my humanity for the sake of others’ salvation. While I endure my faults and life’s difficulties, accepting them as opportunities to grow in love and wisdom, I ask that through Your mercy I never actually sin against You or other people.

Suffering Servant of God, united with You, I offer the heartaches, failures and misfortunes of others’ lives and mine. Your life in me is my real self that desires and moves towards goodness and others’ welfare. Where we can only experience grief or depression before traumatic and distressing occurrences, empower us with trust in You.

Please grant me confidence in Your merciful action even when all seems hopeless, so that like You, I will obtain numerous conversions in blessing for my life lived in service of You and others. October 1980

Jesus, even when I feel devastated or despondent, I desire to pray and try to assist others. Help me to accept humbly, without surprise or disappointment that I seem imperfect and unfruitful, and that life seems dark and gloomy.

Let me live Your dream of me regardless. Let me be the treasure You created me to be, for You and for anyone in my life. Please delight Yourself in me and fulfil Your will in my life despite my inadequacies and trials. October 2001

“A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things.” (Saint John of the Cross) “Do not say, “God will consider the number of my gifts.” [Ecclesiasticus 7:9]

**“Offer to God the sacrifice of never gathering any fruit. If He wills that throughout your whole life, you should feel a repugnance to suffering and humiliation—if He permits that all the flowers of your desires and of your good will should fall to the ground without any fruit appearing, do not worry. At the hour of death He will cause fruits to ripen on the tree of your soul.” **(Saint Therese quoted by Celine in ‘Counsels and Reminiscences’)

 

[Trishie]

****“My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully developed, complete, with nothing missing.” [James 1:2-4]
“**So, even those whom God allows to suffer must trust themselves to the constancy of the Creator and go on doing good.” **[1Peter 4:19]
“**These sufferings bring patience…and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.” **[Romans 5:3-5]
“Nothing can become between us and the love of Christ, even if we are worried or troubled, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of Him who loved us.” [Romans 8:35-37] “

**Think of what Christ suffered in this life, and then arm yourself with the same resolution that He had” and not “ruled by human passions, but only by the will of God.” **[1Peter 4:1-2] “If in union with Christ we have imitated His death, we shall also imitate Him in His resurrection. We must realise that our former selves have been crucified with Him to destroy his sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin…having died with Christ, we shall return to life with him.” [Romans 6:5-8]

“I** think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us.”** [Romans 8:18] “Happy the person who stands firm when trials come. He has proved himself, and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” [James 1:12] “Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed…to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold.” [1Peter 1:5-7]

 

[Trishie]

**“My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully developed, complete, with nothing missing.” [James 1:2-4] “So, even those whom God allows to suffer must trust themselves to the constancy of the Creator and go on doing good.” [1Peter 4:19] “These sufferings bring patience…and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.” [Romans 5:3-5]

“Nothing can become between us and the love of Christ, even if we are worried or troubled, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of Him who loved us.” [Romans 8:35-37] “Think of what Christ suffered in this life, and then arm yourself with the same resolution that He had” and not “ruled by human passions, but only by the will of God.” [1Peter 4:1-2] “If in union with Christ we have imitated His death, we shall also imitate Him in His resurrection. We must realise that our former selves have been crucified with Him to destroy his sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin…having died with Christ, we shall return to life with him.” Romans 6:5-8]

“I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us.” [Romans 8:18] “Happy the person who stands firm when trials come. He has proved himself, and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” [James 1:12] “Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed…to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold.” [1Peter 1:5-7] **