"The Lessons of Tough Times"

DAY #52 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11 NIV

"At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (MESSAGE Version) 


Tough times will always come, as God says that 'in this world you will have tribulation...'  (John 16:33) and we have to learn how to handle them correctly. Not many people like tough times, or like that they receive tough times sometimes due to their choice and judgement. God disciplines us like a Father, when we choose to disobey and make our own choices. We, as children of God, need to be able to receive discipline for the choices that we make that turn out wrong. Now, I like a challenge, and I was just thinking before I read the verse that tough times are great because you always learn a lesson from them that helps you in the future... but no one likes being in the midst of a tough time. Knowing in the end that God has proven faithful to you (when you are faithful to Him) is a blessing, and then you know that your faith can increase, because when the next 'tough time' comes along, God will prove faithful again. "Times of adversity can and should-- be times of intense spiritual and personal growth. But God will not force you to learn the lessons of adversity. You must learn them for yourself." ('A Woman of Faith' Devotional. Day 52. ©2007 Freeman-Smith, LLC. Nashville, TN. 37202)

So our goal is to get rid of the 'trouble' or 'tough times', but as we are doing that, we need to remember that we are probably supposed to be learning something from it too. Are you going through 'tough times' or 'times of discipline' right now? What can you be learning from it -- other than not doing it again?

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what ROCK is under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted." ~ Madeline L'Engle

Check out the parable of the wise & foolish men found in Matthew 7 (v. 24-27) - - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The wise learn from their mistakes, and move on to tackle their next adventure with the same faith and determination - standing on the solid rock, because our God is faithful!

Are you standing on the ROCK, or is it just sinking sand?

Check out this song by 'Big Tent Revival' - "Two Sets of Jones'"


"...there's two sets of Jones', which ones will you be??" (Big Tent Revival)

Make the choice today to build your 'house' and your 'life' on the ROCK (JESUS CHRIST)!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!