Life is full of choices. Some choices are as simple as will I eat the chocolate chip cookie or the sugar cookie. (My world, my dilemmas) Ha.
Okay, I’m kidding about the cookies, sorta.
But seriously, sometimes we are faced with difficult and hard life choices. Especially when circumstances are stacking up against us and the logical thing seems to be to give up and find an easier way. However, easier is not always better.
This month, my Bible study group has decided to read through the book of James. When I read the first verse that said:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2
I knew that I was in for it. God was going to start speaking to me about standing firm and not giving up on certain things in my life.
More than that, as if to reiterate this life lesson, while writing my latest Lavender Vale book, Blessed Gifts, I realized the theme was leaning toward this very issue. Ben Brown has made some bad choices and is dealing with the consequences of those choices. In the story, he is presented with an easy out, but not without a price.
While writing Ben’s story, I came to realize that perhaps I needed to practice what I wrote about. Ha. The easy way will always be there, tempting us, telling us that we deserve it, we don’t need to make life more difficult than it already is. Even Jesus understands this. He was tempted by the master tempter himself, wasn’t he? God could have taken the easy way and never given us a choice in the garden to obey. He didn’t have to. Did he?
He gets it. And I suppose as I wrote this story, I was working out making the harder choices that would take more effort, take more time, require more risk… yet, there is the promise for something grand is waiting for us.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
A crown is given to someone who rules over something. Every time we triumph over a trial, overcome an obstacle, or beat something that controls us, we rule that thing that was standing in our way. It no longer rules us.
If you’d like to read more about my thoughts on this, hop over to my blog post about Doing Hard Things.
While there, check out my homepage for all the special deals I have going on right now.
You can also read Ben and Olivia’s story in Blessed Gifts here. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited member, you can read it for free!
I wish you all a very merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop in. All of us here at Inspy Romance are very grateful for you.
Blessings and Peace,
Jackie C.
Jackie Castle is the author of The White Road Chronicles a fantasy series, The Sentinel Archives for school-age readers, and newly released Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast romance series. She has also published articles and short stories in numerous magazines. She’s enjoyed many crazy adventures from working as a hairstylist, to her bravest quest: teaching children in daycare and elementary schools. Eventually, she settled down to a somewhat safer pursuit of being a Story-weaver. Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins marvelous tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild. She looks for the extraordinary in every ordinary day that she experiences.
I completely understand about going through the hard stuff, Jackie! Thank you for sharing and letting us know we are not alone!
Thank you for the inspiration. I’ve read that verse many times but haven’t thought about it quite like that. I like the image of a crown.
Wow, that’s a hard message! Thanks for sharing.
Right now I’m applying to many new (teaching/academic) jobs and making several attempts to contact people in the job market. It’s been really hard to accept my current professional circumstances and not getting job after job I applied/interviewed for.
Trials of many kinds remind me that these are professional trials, even though I try to think of them as God’s plan for me so I can spend more time with my baby boy at home while working on a postdoc fellowship. Still kind of saddens me everytime I think I have pursued a demanding degree just to be home.
Good stuff. Thank you!
You’re welcome! That’s one of the blessings of going through things, don’t you think? Being able to share your testimony and hopefully help others. =)
You’re welcome! That’s one of the blessings of going through things, don’t you think? Being able to share your testimony and hopefully help others. =)
You know, it only recently came to me while studying James and it changed my perception of that scripture so much. In a good way!
The good thing is that everything is for a season. He knows when we are ready to reach the other side of our trials.
Nothing is wasted.
Don’t lose hope. =)
You’re welcome. =)
I so need this today…thanks. A family member is going through difficult health issues, new meds, new doctors….kinda overwhelming.
Amen, yes, and the reminders and nudges we all need from time to time!
Praying for you. Glad it helped.
Very inspiring post.Thank you for sharing it. I hope you have a lovely Christmas.
Thank you.
I love how God brings the same message out in various different places when it is something that needs to be learned. I need to stop and follow His leading.
Amen. He’s good about being patient with us.
I love books where characters have to make the hard decisions. They’re more realistic.
That’s true. =)
Merry Christmas Jackie! I love the covers of your books!