Romans 5:3-5 ESV Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Psalm 73 ESV Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked

Sometimes God allows storms, struggles and rejections in our lives as part of His marvellous plan. Our view of life is often very limited, and our ways are simply not like Gods. God often uses the storms and traumas to develop in us a deeper hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Without them we would be satisfied with our lives and the things this world has to offer. Without the rejection from family and friends we will not have such a great void that only God can fill. Without the wounds and scars of the past we wouldn’t know the love and the power of Jesus operational in our lives. In fact, Christ is our perfect model because without the suffering and death of Christ on the cross we wouldn’t have eternal life and salvation. In the things of the spirit, death proceeds life. It is in the dead situations of our life that God brings forth hope, restitution and new beginnings. It is these same situations that make us solely dependent on Him and lose our dependency on people and things.

So, rejoice in all those areas where the enemy thought he had your destiny. Rejoice in your many failures and falls. My dear rejoice. Because it is due to all these things that you know God the way you do. It is all these things that has positioned you towards deeper intimacy with God. Just look around all the people without a struggle all the people who have not had to fight. The ones that live comfortable, stress free lives, can they even consider for one minute to spend all night is prayer? Can they not eat for 21 days to see the face of God? No

They already have their God and they seek, lack and desire nothing. So, on the outside though they seem fruitful the truth is that where it counts, they are barren and fruitless. Unproductive, because they lack the necessary brokenness that propels one to live in an abandoned way before God. Don’t envy evil doers. Evil doers are simply those who believe they do not need God. Because of their many positions, possessions and plans, they now think they are gods and don’t seek him. Thank God for your storms because He is working it out for your eternal good.

Lord thank you for your grace in the times of trouble, thank you for refining me by your fire. Teach me to trust you through it all, through the suffering, pain and doubt. Teach me to trust you even when I don’t know how the story is going to end. Lord I surrender all my anxieties and concerns into your hand.

Much Love in Christ,

Your Sister,

Ruth 
Pursuing Holiness