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JAS 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
What would life be without
a few challenges? What if you were never tested or never
struggled to achieve anything? It is truly through the
challenges in life that we find out what we are made of.
Most of you know that I
struggle with a Jaw problem called TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular
Joint) Sometimes called TMD for Temporo-Mandibular Disorder.
It's a painful condition where the joints in my jaw are out of
alignment causing all sorts of problems, from muscle soreness in
my face to raging headaches and neck pain. But I am no
expert so in the beginning I saw a Doctor who basically had no
idea what was wrong. Then I visited a dentist and the
dentist gave me a partial solution. He gave me a bite plate
that helped to align my jaw properly relieving some of the pain
and discomfort I was feeling. The problem was that this bite
plate only worked when it was in my mouth and the problem was
merely temporarily fixed. Although this helped immensely,
after 2 years of wearing the bite plate, the problem is still
there. My jaw is still out of alignment.
More recently here in New
Zealand I have been seeing a new Dentist who is not interested in
patching the problem but resolving the problem. Instead of
providing a "band-aid" remedy he's looking to the future and
creating a plan to help permanently fix my jaw. Here's the
rub though! This plan takes time and is quite uncomfortable.
In fact as I'm typing this my teeth are aching from the springs in
my mouth separating my teeth in preparation for braces.
But let me back up! A
few weeks ago the first problem was discovered to be a wisdom
tooth that was causing my jaw to shift. The solution: yank
it! Man that hurt! Not at the time, thanks to the
numbing medication but for the next week it hurt bad. I even
got a minor infection and had to go on antibiotics for a week.
But that was only one step in the plan. Now I need to get
braces for, as far as I understand, at least a year in order to
correct the alignment problems in my teeth. As many of you
know braces are not fun but a necessary step in the solving of a
bigger problem.
So why am I telling you all
this. Basically because it reminds me of a very important
spiritual lesson that we all must learn.
When there is sin in our
lives, our lives are out of alignment and we suffer from chronic
problems that were not designed to be part of the human life.
We are twisted from the image God had when he created mankind and
he wants to fix the problem.
However God does not want to
create a temporary patch on the problem that mildly relieves the
discomfort. He wants to solve the problem.
Sometimes our lives are
riddled with small disorders and misalignments that need to be
straightened out. Many people choose to simply live with the
discomfort and do very little about it. When Christ is
saying, I know what to do but it won't be easy.
When we surrender our lives to
Christ and ask Him to purify us it can be a painful process.
He begins shaping us into a useful tool but the repairs can take
time and be very uncomfortable.
You may need to be humbled and
learn what it means to apologize, or you may face issues that
require faith and patience in God that will develop those skills.
The difference between a true
follower of Christ is the willingness to go through the refining
process and take the bad with the good.
I know that I will have to
live with some significant discomfort this year as I go through
the process of repairing my jaw, but I keep my eyes focused on the
end result rather than on the current struggle. If I live
for now than I would rather take these springs out of my teeth and
get rid of the annoying pain they cause, but if I look to the
future, I endure it for a better life ahead.
In your Christian walk will
you allow Christ to be your healer and purifier? Will you
allow him to mold you into something better and more useful by
submitting to God's transforming power and living by the Word of
God in your life?
You will
be better for it!
JAS 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. |
Do what works for you and
set a goal that you can achieve. Maybe start with 10mins 3
times a week. The key is progress! Keep moving
forward!