Paradise?

1 Peter 4:12-13

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

If I were to ask you to describe what “paradise” would look like to you, what would you say? Most likely you would picture a beautiful beach scene with abundant sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Blue skies and a warm climate. If you had a vote, you would probably cast your ballot for this scene every day of your life, wouldn’t you?

Of course, we would all would prefer sunshine over storms and rain. But if it never rained again, what would our world look like? I read a book about the life of a Pastor’s wife and this excerpt is from that book. Franklin Elmer described a place of no rain located in Northern Chile. He wrote, “Morning after morning the sun rises brilliantly over the tall mountains to the east; each noon it shines brightly down from overhead; evening brings a picturesque sunset. Although storms are often seen raging high in the mountains, and heavy fog banks are observed far out over the sea, the sun continues to shine on this favored and protected strip of land. One would imagine this area to be an earthly paradise, but it is not. Instead, it is a sterile and desolate desert! There are no streams of water, and nothing grows there.” Nothing will grow in a life free of trials. And a life without “rain” does not exist.

1 Peter 5:10

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

How true that statement is. No one has a life free of trials and heartache. We all have those times of rain and storms. But it is through those trials and struggles that we learn and grow the most if we will fully trust the Lord and ask for His guidance, help, and strength to see us through to the end. Do those times cause us pain? Yes, of course, but God is always teaching, always instructing, always guiding, and always there even though at times we may not believe it or feel it. I have used the quote, “The teacher is always silent during the test” many times and sometimes it is very true. But He IS ALWAYS there. I also read this quote by Corrie Ten Boom, “If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes.” God will make a way. He will provide you with the help that you need. You just have to yield to His way and His work.

James 1:12

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

I can’t help but wonder how many storms we go through needlessly because we are not living and doing right and it's God's way of getting our attention. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get the Lord's attention that way. We need to stay close to the Lord and yield our wills to Him daily and live in the way that He instructs us. That's not to say that even if you are in God's will, you will not experience storms. As Christians, we will all experience storms at some point in our lives. It's how we respond to them that makes us either weaker or stronger.

Psalm 34:17

"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

You can wish and pray for that “paradise” but that is not how we grow and get stronger as Christians. So, the next time you are going through that storm and you are wishing for the calm of “paradise,” remember that it is during this storm that you will become a stronger Christian not only for yourself but also make you able to help others who may be struggling in the battering wind and rain of life.

1 Peter 1:6-7

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Joshua 1:9

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”