Rejoicing in Pain

Although no one enjoys painful trials, they are a necessity for the Christian life. Apostle Peter says that our trials are a sign that the goal of our faith is being accomplished. Through them, God is working to purify us and teach us to depend on the Father, all the while making us more like Christ. Just as fire tests and purifies gold, so God is testing and purifying our faith, “and our faith is far more precious to God than mere old.”

So God allows us to go through trials because of how precious we are to Him. It hurts, it’s painful and God knows that and feels compassion toward us. But he doesn’t always take away the pain because of what the pain produces in our lives. 

God has a purpose in our lives that will not be accomplished without suffering. Suffering exposes the games we play in an attempt to run our own lives and trust ourselves rather than God. Our loving Father knows that this is far more dangerous to our souls than the suffering that comes our way. Only when we learn to walk in dependence on Him can we experience the intimacy that our souls are thirsty for.

Peter concludes that we have exceedingly great reason to rejoice, even in the midst of our trials, because our trials are accomplishing for us a blessedness that can never perish, spoil or fade. In the midst of crisis, that is our hope. (k.ricafort)

Looking at things in a different perspective

"Progress depends upon what we are, rather than upon what we may encounter. One man is stopped by a sapling lying across the road; another, passing that way, picks up the hindrance and converts it into a help in crossing the brook just ahead. We are too apt to think that our progress in a given case will depend solely upon the obstacles we may run against. It is more likely to depend upon what runs against the obstacles." - Henry Clay Trumbull

Acceptance is the best weapon to overcome the guilt about past failures. Learn to forgive yourself, accept and let go of the things beyond your control. Things may not be so easy for us but, we all have to move on. We need to look at things in a different perspective.

 1) Know your limitations.

Know your limits. Know your capabilities and abilities so as to have realistic targets and goals.

2) Accept things with contentment.

 "Let each one prove what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person." Be happy with what you have and with what you have not. Be happy with the achievements of others and make them your inspiration rather than you get envy.

3) Show your true color.

Don’t  do things just to please others, rather do it because it is the right thing. Be yourself. And live your faith and your principle. Let your color shine through.

4) Accept failures.

Accept failures, learn from them. Reevaluate and try to resolve things. Your failures and mistakes do not make you a lesser person.

5) Take things lightly.

Have a sense of humor. Try to relax and keep cool yet focus. Trust in Lord and do things deliberately to hit your goal.

6) Be generous.

Be generous in service, in love, in all good virtues and even in forgiveness. Always pay evil with good, and without partiality.

7) Giving the best shot.

Consider your day as if the last, so give your best shot.  (k.ricafort)