12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
If there is one area I need to grow in it is being patient in affliction! Everything in me screams out, “Get me out of this now!” The ability to stick with affliction, trouble, trial, difficulty is the measure of out true Christ-likeness. The character of Jesus was not shown when he was feeding the 5000, but when he was being whipped and beaten prior to his being placed on the Cross. You see, if we could, we would feed the 5000. That doesn’t take much moral fortitude. Even Al Qaeda provides food and medical care to poor people in order to win them over. No, great character is demonstrated in the middle of trial and trouble. When the toothpaste tube is squeezed, that is when the contents become evident. What pressure in your life are you trying to avoid? Don’t avoid it, press into it and allow the grace of God to mold you and make you in that pressure. God will use the pressure to work out of your character the imperfections that make you unlike Him. Let the dross removal begin!
The Arnold Journey 