"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing." (James 1:3-4, Amplified)
The final stage of the LPGA Tour qualifying school, also known as "the Fall Classic," is where players of all ages compete for 20 coveted spots on the following year's LPGA priority list.
Players experience different kinds of trials throughout the week--battling nerves, calming anxiety, and overcoming physical and mental fatigue are a few. Finishing the 90 holes strong requires endurance, steadfastness, and patience.
Reading through the different Gospel accounts of the Christmas story, I find that Joseph and Mary faced many trials leading up to and after the birth of Jesus. I believe God used these challenges and the proving of their faith to do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
How did Joseph and Mary handle these trials?
Mary was troubled, disturbed, and confused when the angel first spoke to her, and yet at a young age she responded, "...let it be done to me according to what you have said" (Luke 1:38). She was willing to trust the Lord even when it didn't make sense.
When Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, he wanted to divorce her quietly. But the Angel of the Lord told him not to be afraid, to take Mary as his wife, and to name the child Jesus. Joseph heard the Word and took action.
Joseph and Mary continued to obey God's leading and commands. Mary traveled to Elizabeth's, Joseph led them to Bethlehem for the census, and they obediently named the baby Jesus. On the eighth day, they circumcised Jesus and offered the appropriate sacrifice for the firstborn. When told to flee, again Joseph listened and obeyed.
The once simple lives Joseph and Mary knew turned into one trial after another. After riding on a donkey for nearly 90 miles over difficult terrain, Mary gave birth to the Son of God in a smelly cave. With no room in the inn, Mary laid Jesus in a manger, likely made of stone and commonly used for water.
Enduring through these trials, Joseph and Mary handled the proving of their faith with steadfastness, and patiently experienced the thorough work the Lord was doing in their hearts. Because they were willing to trust, listen to, and obey the Lord, it was the beginning of wonderful things to come.
Many of us may not feel cheerful this Christmas due to our own trials. When our circumstances don't make sense, we can trust the Lord, and when we hear Him speak, we can listen, obey and take action. Persevere with endurance, steadfastness, and patience. It's in our relationship with Jesus where we truly lack nothing.
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