"I wish I was a little girl again!"
How many of you at one time or another has ever wished you were a little
girl again? This is an ordinary expression declared by many women when
facing up to life becomes hard. It's funny, but when we were little girls,
we always wished we were grown-ups! Why would we do such a thing? Because
there were rules that you and I didn't want to have to follow, and being
a grown-up in the eyes of a child means being able to do whatever you
want! The fact of the matter is ladies, that either way, humans prefer
to avoid that which is difficult to do, whether young, or grown-up. In
reality, this is immature thinking. Not everyone who grows old, grows
up! And yet, there comes a time when we must make up our minds to do that
very thing....
Turn with me to James chapter one today, as we read through the first
four verses. James was writing this letter to the twelve tribes scattered
abroad, the Christian Jews that were outside their homeland. They were
having some problems in their personal lives as well as in their fellowship
with one another. They were going through some difficult testings and
James was writing to them about how to face up to life. His advice begins
in verse 2:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
Without delay, James directly addresses the attitudes of these folk. He
says, "Count it all joy". How do you count your testings - as a pain in
the neck?? How do you typically respond to someone who, at the peak of
your struggle, tells you that good can come from the difficult trials
you are experiencing? It's tempting to show contempt for their scriptural
advice, amen? It seems we don't really care to hear that good CAN come
from the most difficult situations. As we assess our complex circumstances,
we don't want to know or hear that things can be worked out usually because
we don't want to face up to the difficulty ahead of us and the position
in which it might place us - a position of discomfort! Unfortunately,
we would rather spend time indulging in self-pity, escaping by wishing
we were little girls again, than go through the trial. Ladies, James is
right - we need attitude adjustments! We need to grow up…
James also said in the above verse, “WHEN ye fall into...” He didn't say,
“IF ye fall into...” Why? Because the Christian life WILL hold difficulties,
it is not a question of "IF" at all! I hope you aren't expecting adult
life to be easygoing, as would a little girl, because you are just deceiving
yourself. As Christians, we are to expect trials; we will encounter them
regularly as long as we are alive on this earth. Jesus Himself said in
John 16:33 that in this world we would have tribulation. Therefore, when
James chose the word "count", what do you think he meant by that? Count
as used here means to evaluate the situation. In other words, decide up
front how you are going to react to your trials! Do you consider them
unfair? If you're always escaping that which you find distasteful by wishing
you were a little girl again, you will never react properly to the testings
and trials in your life. You will become easily upset because your life
isn't "comfortable" anymore.
Think about it, dear lady... Are you placing more value on your comfort,
or your character? If comfort, you will not count your walk with God as
very joyful! You see ladies, the way you start out your trial is the way
you will end up afterwards. Purpose in your heart to begin with joy AND
you'll end with joy in the Lord. You will find that it is the road to
spiritual maturity as well…
1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you.
I know some of you are thinking, "But how is it possible to rejoice in
the midst of trials?!" James answers you in verse 3:
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
“KNOWING this…” Ladies, we are directed by James to understand why our
trial is happening, to consider LIFE from God's perspective, not just
our own! The Lord is trying our faith. Hence, there is spiritual value
in every trial! This is how it is possible to rejoice and gain victory
over them. Too often we impatiently reach for relief from adversity, thereby
failing to receive the entire lesson God intended for us! Ladies, we need
more than just knowledge of God, we need experience with God… The reason
for trial is maturity - to get us to grow up - more and more and more!
Growth is never over in this lifetime. Those of you who have been saved
for any length of time know this to be true! God's people are always tested
and tried to bring about greater ripeness to our Christian lives. We are
being developed by God Himself, our heavenly Father who dearly loves us!
His purposes are always to increase our faith in Him, to bring out the
best in us, which is the very character of Christ! Remember, outlook determines
outcome. When looking at life through our eyes alone, we automatically
adopt an attitude that our trial is working AGAINST us, when in reality
it is working FOR us as far as God is concerned.
2 Cor. 4:17 (KJV)
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
When you "know" and understand this truth as James so aptly put it, you
will immediately give thanks to the Lord and adopt a joyful attitude toward
your difficulties! It will make it easier to face your trials and benefit
from them. No more cries of, "Why God?!" With an understanding mind, you'll
learn to recognize the value of testings as you surrender all and trust
the Lord.
How many of you have young daughters who wish they were grown-ups? As
an adult, you can see now that this is really their impatience at work.
Immature people are always impatient... Well, impatience is still at work
in our lives today as grown women and it hinders us from receiving so
many blessings! The Lord, of course, knows this and sends specific trials
into each of our lives to develop patience and a mature character within
us. Maturity doesn't come by swallowing a pill, hearing a sermon preached,
or reading a book about it. It comes through experiencing the difficulties
of life and facing up to them with courageous perseverance rooted in faith
in God.
James 1:4 (KJV)
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.
Yes, James is encouraging us to stop wishing we were little girls again
and grow up! Some of us prefer to shift into reverse and live in the past,
while some of us prefer to fast forward and catapult ourselves into the
future, but we're all guilty of the same attitude - we want to AVOID our
trials! Observe your attitudes more than you observe your trials, won't
you? Let's allow maturity to have its way in our hearts. It's time we
endured adverse circumstances without letting them sour our attitudes!
Patience is a product of faith resulting from trusting God and what He
is doing in our lives. Don't resist the One who loves you and has your
best interest at heart! God always tests to bring out the best.
At this time, in the privacy of your own heart, what do you believe God
is trying to teach you through the situations you are facing today? How
have you been reacting to this "trying of your faith"? Are you willing
to grow up? Is there any joy to be found or only alarm or sorrow? Or are
you getting mad at God for the discomfort these conditions are bringing
you? Have you given up hope in thinking that no good could ever come out
of the difficult situation you are facing? Are you living like a victim
or a victor?? Perhaps you just came through a trial and ended in depression
rather than joy because you started out with the wrong attitude. Why not
ask the Lord to help you to have the courage to face up to life in the
future, to count it all joy no matter the circumstances! The child of
God may rejoice victoriously even in the darkest hour. The end result
to any trial should always bring glory to God!
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
