Journal Entry ~ 02/04/19

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:28-29

There is no doubt that being conformed to the image of Christ comes with its fair share of pain and heartache. I wish I could learn these lessons without having to go through trials, but I know it is in the valleys of life that I am made most tender. 

So many people ask why a loving God would allow His children to walk through so much hurt, why a loving God would allow such pain to exist in this world? I would argue it is because He is such a loving God that He allows these trials into our lives. Being conformed to the image of Christ means I will emulate all the beautiful attributes of Jesus with my actions and my thoughts, and it also means I will live out my life for the glory of God at all times, despite what is happening around me. 

Our hearts are so inwardly focused on our own desires that it takes time for God to tenderize us.  We are not born with the capacity to love and care for others as God intended, and certainly not with the capacity that Jesus does. But He wants that for us. He allows us to walk through difficult trials to develop in us a compassion and a love for others that simply cannot be developed without the valley. He allows us to walk through trials so that He is glorified with the whole of our hearts. We can't do that if we're saving a part of our hearts for ourselves. 

Since we know we have so far to go in both of these areas, we must be of the mindset that trials will come, heartache will happen. We must not let the difficult days or the difficult people in our lives knock us down. We must face these trials knowing He is using them to grow us, praising Him for loving us enough to continue to pursue us and transform us, and trusting that He is at work at all times. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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