“Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’” – John 6:66-67
Yes, always the soul’s mantra needs to be “Thy Will be done”, “Jesus, I trust in You.” But, did you know the high level of trust God has in you?
God trusts me? Hmmmm
We all struggle at times. More often then I care to admit, I’ve fallen and fallen away from God. Yes, He can even use your sin.
God uses challenges and struggles to test and purify your faith. God even allows us to fall into sin. God is All-Powerful and can use any tool in His Kingdom (even the enemy) to build and strengthen a soul.
“For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight” – Sirach 2:5-6
The Father loves you so much that He will withhold nothing to turn your heart and eyes to Him alone.
When a soul hits the bottom of the pool, craving oxygen, he pushes off and upwards toward the light.
How do challenges and falls strengthen? How can sin be ‘good’ for the soul?
It is in the dark night and struggles that the soul surrenders, “not My Will but Yours be done” – Luke 22:42. It is in the darkness of sin that the soul sees his wretchedness and craves God. Even repeated, chronic sin. For every time the souls stands back up after a fall, he grows in strength and virtue. Through every challenge and dark night traveled, the soul moves closer to the light – the Light.
“In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed” – 1 Peter 1:6-7
God takes all these events – struggles, falls and sins – as fire. The refiner places his dingy gold ore into the cauldron, continuously scooping the impurities from the top. In time, with the right heat and patience, the gold becomes pure. And, God, THE Refiner, knows that when purified perfectly, He can see His reflection in the gold.
So, when faced with challenges or falls, Jesus looks your way, trusting you will respond as St. Peter, “‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68-69