The Pressure And The Evidence

In these blogs I will attempt to present biblical ponderings that will stir the heart or at least give us something to consider.

As most of us enjoy the taste of a fresh glass of orange juice or possibly the smell of a freshly cut field of grass, we may not think much about the process it took to create the experience.  The orange must be put through a pressure process while the field of grass must be cut. Simple enough. As a Christian we should see the trials and tribulatiuons or hardships that we go through as reflective of the orange and grass. "Why God?", or perhaps you have heard this: "Lord, why am I going through this? What have I done"?
These are questions that cause us to think upon our lives or examine ourselves. If we take them at face value it is easy to react or respond according to our emotions. If we take time to reflect we might just see the hand of God at work within us.
These trials and hardships, as inconvenient as they may be, act as a sort of spiritual resistance without which we cannot be strengthened. In the physical, we go to the fitness center and load up the weights or turn up the speed in order to apply resistance. We know this will ultimately help us to become stronger and healthier though we struggle and sweat. While we may even ask ourselves "why am I doing this?" we know the end result is good and good for us. The book of Hebrews tells us that it is not a comfortable or convenient time we go through but grevious. Its frustrating and its a pain! It's also designed to be that way. It shows us what comes out of us when the pressure is on. Faithful, devoted and seemingly godly people become something else when these seasons come upon us. Their words and actions are shocking for others to see.
But these are the seasons that reveal what is going on inside of us. They reveal the fruit of who we are and not who we think we are. Hebrews continues and says that it will bring the peaceable fruit of righteousness when we have been trained by the trial. Friends, it is not easy and it will not get any easier in this world, but  we must continue to let God work in us His virtue and character. We have no option but to let the work accomplish in us Gods will that the world may taste and see that the Lord is good!