Life is a mess right now. For the last month, it has been almost daily that someone has shared a burden they carry with me. Everywhere I turn people are hurting. From marriages to children and work situations, I have heard so many stories. I add this onto my own personal loss that I am still recovering from and it feels like too much. I can’t process how so many followers of Christ can live in such chaos at one time. Tonight I was staring into the mess, trying to see Christ in the clutter and it was so hard. I just kept running out of prayers to pray, so I starting looking up scripture and found this:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you…Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 2: 1-4 & 7
What stands out to me is that the scripture doesn’t over a remedy to the test. I think that’s our natural inclination when challenged. How do we get rid of this? What steps to do we take? On the contrary, it challenges you to persevere and, if you need something else, you can ask for wisdom to understand what you’re going through. So, I suppose that’s what I need, Lord. Give me wisdom. I want to see you in this mess and find it beautiful.
Beauty From Ashes 