Trials Usher in Peace



Today we will be looking at the ways Trials usher in peace through the Grace of God.

Last week I shared my epiphany of sorts on what it means to "grow in grace".  You can read that post HERE.

A few days after writing that post, the Lord ministered to me further regarding His perfect Grace through the following verse from Peter:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you 
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 
2 Peter 1:2

There's No Peace without God's Grace


Do you see that?  Grace and peace are mentioned as one unit essentially.  You might say, well Karen isn't that obvious? God's grace would indeed bring peace.  And I would certainly agree.  But when we consider what we learned in last week's post about grace, "God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence.", it would stand to reason that God's peace is often experienced as a result of trials.

Nobody enjoys trials.  I certainly do not.  They are painful and difficult.  But then there is the Apostle Paul...

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.  Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,  I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:21-30

Here we see him boasting about sufferings of which he was WELL ACQUAINTED!  How was it possible for Paul to boast and rejoice about sufferings??

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.…
1 Peter 4:12

Because the Apostle Paul depended upon God's grace and strength, he felt honored to share in the sufferings of Christ.  He was not resentful, bitter, broken, or anxious.  I would say the Apostle Paul experienced God's peace in the midst of suffering because He believed God's promises.   His knowledge of God the Father and His faith in Him was the source for drawing upon God's grace and experiencing the peace that comes through His grace alone.

There is no Peace without Knowing God


I recently began studying and meditating upon the names of God. It has been a wonderful exercise!  I found a website that broke down the names of God and then listed a relevant Bible verse.  I have been having an exciting and wonderful time with the Lord journaling what is being revealed to me as I study each name of God.  These insights are strengthening my relationship with the Lord and building up my own faith as I am reminded of who He is and how much He loves ME!

In the trials of life, the more we know God - His attributes, His character, the meaning behind His many names, the more we will recall His loving nature, His promised faithfulness, and the more grace and peace will be multiplied to us.

The more grace and peace we receive with each trial, the more we will remember back to those  experiences of multiplied grace and peace which will translate into the peace that surpasses all understanding when we are in the thick of suffering.

I've recently moved on to another ailment, but I can see a change in my response and attitude as I have been intentionally learning more about God my Father.  In full transparency, there was anxiety in the thick of it, but then I prayed boldly believing God for the blessing of healing, and in the days after that prayer, I could feel something change within - I had a peace about me that was supernatural.  My peace was coming from the knowledge that the Lord would heal me, as He saw fit as a loving Father, that He would be with me and that He would bless me.

Jehovah-Shalom - God of Peace

There is no Peace without Trials


We are meant to know the fullness of God's peace - His perfect peace.  The peace that sustains us through difficult times - times of sanctification whereby God makes us Holy.  We were created to experience His peace.

To read more about experiencing the peace of God click on the following:






The next time you go through trials remember that is the accelerated means by which God will multiple His grace and peace to you.



You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & TruthWoman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me MondayA Wise Women Builds Her HomeSpiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Good Morning MondaysTell His StoryFaith & Fellowship Blog Hop  Tuesday Talk   Faith 'N Friends Sitting Among Friends   House to Home  ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting GraceDance with Jesus Booknificent Thursdays  Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-upSunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday ThoughtsWriter Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up  Encouraging Word Wednesday  Grace Moments Link-up  Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart Kingdom Bloggers Outdoorsy Mommy Anchored Truth Tuesdays IHeart Verse InstaEncouragements

Comments

  1. Paul is such a good example of someone who found peace in God, even in the midst of trials and, I agree, holding on to God's promises and what we know of his character makes such a difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lesley, Amen!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  2. I so agree with you on the more we experience the faithfulness of God, the more we rely on it (and don't freak out when bad things happen). I've experienced this in my life over and over again. God is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anita, Thanks for adding to the conversation. I appreciate it! :-)

      Delete
  3. Dear friend! As you will understand, this post was SO precious to me right now. How I thank God for you, your friendship, your faithfulness to the calling He has placed upon your life, your encouragement, and most of all your precious prayers for me, my family, and our burdens. Your email tonight meant SO much to me. You gave me courage, and God used you to give me the answer I needed. I am so very grateful to Him for bringing you into my life and for the way He uses you time after time to minister to me when I need it most. May He bless you abundantly, and oh, how I rejoice with you in your victory tonight! Much love to you, my dear, faithful friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl, I am so blessed to have you in my life as well. It is a privilege to walk in this blog ministry together with you, and such an incredible blessing to have you in my life. Your friendship means more than words could say.

      I love and appreciate you so much.

      Delete
  4. So good and so true. I think that grace and peace also come in the crying out because the crying out is us turning toward God in trust, as we admit we can't do the hard alone. I love that you have been studying the character of God. He is so different to us humans and yet humbled Himself to become the Word made flesh for us. So very thankful for His ever present grace and peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anna, Absolutely! Thanks so much for sharing that.

      Amen!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  5. No matter how many times I read those verses about Paul's many trials, I am amazed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ashley, I agree!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  6. I love studying the names of God. Would you be willing to share the name of the website? Knowing the Lord more through the study of His names and attributes is such a rich blessing. It definitely helps so much as we go through trials! Thank you so much for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl, Of course! Here it is: https://www.navigators.org/resource/praying-names-attributes-god/

      You are very welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  7. I'm not always good at persevering without grumbling! I long to be filled with more grace and peace in the process!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rebecca, I'm right there with you. :-)

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  8. Such beautiful assurance to know I was created for God's peace. That is the reminder I needed today. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary, Praising God you found encouragement here.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Blessings to you too!

      Delete
  9. Thank you for linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup last week. This post inspired me and fits so well with my ongoing series. God is a work. Your post was also the most clicked last week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary, You are welcome.

      I love when the Lord knits a community together like that!

      Thanks for letting me know! I appreciated your kind words about that blog post on your site.

      Blessings,

      Delete
  10. What an excellent post - and thanks for another idea for a personal Bible study!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie, Thank you!

      You are very welcome! :-)

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  11. I love how the Lord continues to reveal new things to us! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com this month!
    Tina

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Popular Posts