Nuggets of Wisdom

Here are a few of the great bits of wisdom I have come across (and learned) this week:

• "...faith is rarely grown with anything other than overwhelming circumstances... If you are walking in faith, God has ordered your steps--He has put you where you are. He has a good reason for it...you are being tested." ~ Waiting On God by Cherie Hill
• While God is predictable in His character, He is unpredictable in His activity. God likes to shake up our neat and orderly lives once in a while. It wakes us up from our spiritual lethargy. At that point, we have a choice to make: retreat into our comfort zones or step out in faith and trust God. ~ paraphrased from One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer.
• We tend to beat up on the Israelites who wandered through the wilderness for 40 years on their way to the Promised Land. They witness true miracles--parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, etc. Then the next moment they are complaining and discontent with their circumstances. But, I've found myself in that very situation recently. Present circumstances are uncomfortable, stretching my faith farther than I like. My head knows I need to trust God and I've seen Him perform some great things, but I'm still squirming in my seat. Hmmm. Discontentment. Complaining because the "heat's just a little too much." Maybe I'm not much different than those Israelites after all. 

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

~ Hebrews 11:1

 

...because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 

~ James 1:3

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know 

that suffering produces perseverance... ~ Romans 5:3