New Year Devotion XD~

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings becausewe know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."

-Romans 5:3-5

This year (2008) has been a very memorable year for all of us. God's hand has been seen by many of us, doin His great works, and many of us just fell flat on our faces in awe of the GREAT I AM for His grace! 

But surely no one can say that this past year has been perfect. We've all had our trials, our breakdowns, our moments of emptiness, and our walk through the valley of the shadow of death throughout this 366 day journey through year 2008A.D. Everyone's had their share of inescapable darkness. However, the fact that you're reading this very message, the fact that you're living and breathing this very moment, and the fact that you've reached this chapter of your life only proves that somehow, something got you through that darkness. That force that guided you out of the shadows is the Lord God Himself.

You're very existence only proves that He loves you oh so much! I'm not just saying this because I've read and been taught of this lesson, but because I too had my share of hopeless moments, I've seen the grace of God, and I've seen the very fruits of such trials.

God gives joy to those who seek Him. Now, joy isn't the same as happiness, which is the opposite of sadness. Rather, it's that peace you get amidst (and not despite) the trials. The verse above is very clear about the fruits of suffering, and the fruits thereafter. Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. We suffer, then we persevere through the suffering. Perseverance shapes our character for the better with new lessons learned, and that godly character gives us hope through such suffering. Truth to say, I'm not sure if anyone's ever given the perfect definition of hope, except God Himself through the crucifiction of His beloved Son. The hope that the cross represents is that faith that in the very end, God will justify that darkness, vindicating you.

Now, going back to trials, walking through the valley of the shadow of death is never easy, and fact is, grief, depression, darkness, brokenness -- all of it is real. The question is, what are you going to do about it? It even crushes us to have to go through it, and moreover, God knows that it does! But sometimes, God wants us to go through the valley, and not around it. Question is, are we going through it alone? Walking through the valley with God doesn't just mean coming out of it alive and in one piece, because sometimes we may come out of it in shattered pieces. Remember, a life in Christ isn't easy. It's just not lonely. What it means to walk through pain (and not around it) with God, means coming out a new person for the better. Such trials are never without fruits. Because you walked through it with God, sustainable fruits are going to bear, and all will be lifted up for His glory! God loves you so much, He wants to mold and shape you more and more into His Son, and sometimes, it just can't be done without you going through trials. Remember, you can't sharpen a sword with cotton. It has to be something rough and hard.

Trust in the Lord always, oh flock!