Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. —Psalm 139:23
Do you ever wonder why God is allowing certain difficult circumstances in our lives? Perhaps He wants to expose our need and bring us to the end of ourselves. The circumstance He uses may be a stressful job, a difficult marriage, a chronic illness, a financial crisis, or some other issue that brings pressure to bear on our lives. In the face of such pressure, we can choose to respond in pride, by resisting and resenting the circumstance, or by giving in to despair. Or we can choose to respond in humility, to submit to the hand of God and allow Him to mold and shape us through the pressure.
He also gives us the Body of Christ. As we walk in the light with our fellow believers, they can help us see areas where we need to be broken. “The wounds of a friend are trustworthy” (Prov. 27:6) —whether that friend is a pastor, a parent, a partner, or another believer—who loves us enough to point out our spiritual blind spots.
Make it Personal
What methods is God using in your life right now to mold and shape you into the person He wants you to be?