Let it Grow
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something strange was happening to you. Instead be VERY glad, for these trials make you partners with Christ in suffering, so you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to the world.” 1Peter 4:12-13 NLT

“Let us not attach ourselves to his gifts, but to Himself and when He plunges us into the night of pure faith, let us still press on through the agonizing darkness.” Herbert Book, Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

It is in the darkest night where even a candle seems bright. In the deep gloom a lit match will brighten a room. If you are walking in utter blackness of the night, this is when you will most see His Light.

Have you ever been plunged into darkness in a single moment? Or maybe the shadows came slowly until the path you are walking is in dark gloom. Have you ever struggled down a forested mountainside in the dark? I have.

One time my late husband, Jim, and I got lost when hunting (well he got lost and wouldn’t listen to me) and went the opposite way from the truck. We ended up after dark, slipping, sliding and tripping down the mountain, heading into a deep canyon. Deeper into the darkness we went, until I couldn’t see Jim in front of me and had to hang on to his coat to keep from losing him. We ran into tree limbs and fought through brush, and felt our way across a small stream, until finally coming out on an old overgrown road at the bottom of the canyon.

It was a deep darkness that we walked through. There was no moon, no starlight getting through the thick foliage. We literally felt for every step along that old road. Until I could see a little bit of light, what almost seemed like a glowing ahead of me. I surged forward thinking we were coming out of the woods. Suddenly my foot was dangling over nothing. I yelled, as I wobbled and almost lost my footing. Grabbing my arm, Jim jerked me back.

“What is it?” he asked.

“There’s nothing ahead of us, it must be a drop off.”

Yet I could see a faint light, or glowing ahead and below. After considering it, we figured it must be a main Forest Service road we were seeing. With fewer trees the lighter gravel of the road was reflecting any faint light until it almost glowed. We had to get to the light, which meant the way back to our rig, but the drop off was in front of us with no apparent way around it.

Jim said he would lower me down until I could touch ground. So I faithfully climbed over the edge and grabbed his hands as he let me down slowly. It felt as if I was dangling over a great precipice, with nothing but darkness below. My feet scrabbled for footing against the bank, and I held tightly to his hands. There was nothing below my kicking feet.

“Let go.” Jim said. “Its not far.”

“No!” I cried, “I’m going to fall! Pull me back up.”

He tried to pry my hands loose, but I clung desperately, refusing to let go. He pulled me back up.

“There’s gotta be a better way,” I decided.

We found a way, although, maybe not better, fighting through brush and young trees and sliding down the bank. With our feet firmly on the wide, lighter road, we trudged the long, three miles back to our rig. Far below the mountain, we could see the small lights in the valley winking brightly in the dark moonless night. Those tiny lights far below greatly encouraged and strengthened us to keep going.

(By the way-some time later, we were walking on that same gated road and in the light of day we saw the “precipice” Jim was trying to drop me off. He was indeed right, I would have dropped maybe a foot!)

Sometimes there has to be darkness in our world for us to seek the Light, for us to see the Light. Oh we enjoy the day, the sunshine, the joyful times, the happiness, but yet it says in James 1:2 “Consider it PURE joy when ever you face trials of any kind.” (NIV)

Not just be glad or thankful for, but PURE joy. Pure Joy! When bad things happen! Is that possible?

The NLT says, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.” It doesn’t say feel pure joy but consider it pure joy. Consider a trial a chance for joy, an opportunity to gain joy. Maybe not happiness or enjoyment or comfort, but the kind of joy God gives that flows deep in your heart.

Why should we consider it pure joy? “for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (NLT) Or as the NIV says “the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Sticktoitness. As Webster says, “Steadiness in seeking a goal, persistent effort. Persevere-to persist in any undertaking.”
Standing firm, not backing down.

NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER!

Endurance. Tenacity. Strength.

His strength not mine, is how I stand on the Rock.
His endurance, not mine, is how I keep marching.
His joy, not mine, is how I keep praising Him.

Welcome the darkness. Seek the Light! Stand in the Light! Draw strength from the Light!

“For you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing.” James 1:3 NLT
You will need nothing, because everything you have will be from God.
So let it grow.