What God Just Taught Me

So, this year is the year for the book of 1st Peter. It seems as though most of the things I have learned or heard this year have had to do with 1st Peter. I don't think I've ever had a year where the main focus was on one book of the Bible, but I must say I do like it. :)

Yesterday I was reading the 1st chapter again and two verses I've read multiple times caught my attention, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (vs. 6-7). For the first time, one little phrase was brought to my attention... “if need be.” The reason that seems so profound to me is because that phrase is also followed by “you have been grieved by various trials.” Therefore, that tells me that if I face trials, it's because there was a need to learn something. And if I allow God to do what He wants through that trial (instead of complaining and causing problems), then it should cause me to rejoice because it will strengthen my faith, which is “more precious than gold.” So, instead of me having the bad attitude that I have now about my circumstances, I should look at it as “Okay, I'm going through a trial right now. What's the need? What do I need to learn here? How does God want me to respond to this trial?” And maybe this will help me not be so ugly on the inside. Right now I hate the way I'm being on the inside... it's just plain ugly. And being that I'm quite the transparent person, I don't do a very good job of hiding my ugly self. But, I've at least gotten to the point of recognizing it and am trying to submit that over to the Lord for Him to deal with. I'm going to have to do this moment by moment so that I don't revert back to being my ugly self. It'll be a struggle, though, because it's so much easier to act bad than good, but it's so much better for me to act good than bad. I need to get to the point in life when I do rejoice over trials. That is a hard one to do because I want my life to be easy and enjoyable all the time. But, if it's easy, then there's no growth required. And with growth comes maturity and wisdom... and that's what I truly want.

It's in the Valleys I Grow
-Author Unknown

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross.
He went through the valley of death,
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share Your love with others
And help them find their way.

Than You for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know,
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow.