String of Pearls

This week's sermon was about 1Thessalonians 3 - and Pastor Steve discussed temptation as:
1. lure, enticement to sin
2. our being put to the test
3. refining suffering in patience.

Pastor Steve also defined AFFLICTON as being - "Pressed upon, pressed together" - reminding us that we can trust God when He is the one applying the pressure.

The questions he asked that are great to consider in your quiet times this week:
How does God change us? (by trials, tests, and being proved) What is the test you are taking right now? How many times have you failed it? If Jesus and Paul learned through suffering, did you think that you would escape it as a follower?

These are tough things to consider, but we need to remember what this is about. I Thess 2:4 says, "We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."

In 1 Thess 3, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that this persecution was part of following Christ...
"We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted"

As Pastor Steve taught about this, he said "God had in store for Paul a long string of trials to shape him. He suffered many things for Christ"... which brought to mind the image of a string of pearls.... quite literally a clam endures suffering and goes through discomfort in the process of creating a pearl.
When you look at this string of pearls, what might some of the pearls be? Look at each one individually - name the pearls of suffering that you know the Lord has placed in your life...
(ex. loneliness, betrayal, insecurity, a tough relationship...)

Now read:

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

and
Romans 5:3-5
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

When we look at suffering with worldy eyes, it is hard to see purpose. But God's view is one of purpose. He knows why this suffering entered your little clam shell. He wants it to irritate you to the point of surrender to Him, so that He can create a thing of beauty.