SCRIPTURE: These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 NLT
THOUGHT: On the same theme as yesterday, if I would just consider trials simply a part of the faith journey, I wouldn’t get as thrown off when one comes my way. Like Peter (after a lot of fear), I would just say, hey people, stay strong! You’ll be glad you did in the end!
But, like a younger Peter, I struggle to trust and believe when life is hard and trials come my way. In April of last year, I began to envision myself in a boat in the waves. I asked myself was I going to row to the Rock, or to even harder places? It came to me that the ocean was like God’s love and my own love (which when perfect, overcomes fear) was so small – like a teardrop, really, compared to his, but a teardrop that disappears into his big love, becoming a part of something greater. I began to see this journey across the water as a struggle to choose between fear and faith, our enemy and God.
I know where I want to row and I bet you do too. God help us!
SONG:
Your love an ocean, mine a teardrop, rolling out along the shore
Coming nearer, then receding into distant waters’ roar
I have felt hope as an anchor and then fear untethered me
Help me on my homeward journey ‘tween the devil and deep blue seaYou have promised I would triumph
Amy L. Clemens, Deep Blue Sea, 4.1.23
When I choose faith over fear
So give me courage for my leaving
Your deep is calling, your deep is calling, your deep is calling, deep blue sea
PRAYER: Oh God, help my faith to stay strong through many trials – to your honor and glory, and so that you might also have good words for me when I see you!
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.
ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
FREE TO YOU:
If you’d like to be notified of this blog each weekday, please look for the little blue “follow” button below (just above the topical search), and welcome!
asipoblog.com 