- Isaiah 48:10–11 - Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
- Genesis 21:1–2 - And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
- Genesis 45:5 - Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Facing difficulties allows us to deepen our dependency on God. The world's approach is to select the strongest and smartest people to get any job done. The Lord, conversely, uses those who have chosen dependence on Him as their greatest asset. Trusting in God and depending on Him are fundamental characteristics of a spiritually mature person. Such maturity does not occur automatically. Our Heavenly Father meets us where we are with patience and grace, but out of love, He is not content to let us stay there. He transforms us to become more like His Son. The Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding, and over time, the Lord cultivates within us a deeper trust and obedience to His Spirit. This change often happens gradually. However, God sometimes allows difficulties so that our dependency on Him may grow deeper. Let us look at examples of faith in Scripture: Sarah, Abraham, Joseph. These people faced hardships and trials. These situations helped them see both the limitations of their own abilities and the power of God more clearly. Whatever it is that keeps you from fully trusting the Lord, His invitation remains the same: Trust Him more. Lean on Him. For in our weakness, He is strong. Spiritual maturity is not formed by avoiding all difficulties, but by learning to rely more deeply on God in the midst of them.
Reflection
What difficulty in your life is prompting you to rely more on God's power and deepen your dependence on Him?
