ARE YOU COMPLACENT?

 As I have lived through this experience in prison I have had peaceful moments when I'm in a good room, but then God will move me to a new room or switch out my roommates. All of a sudden the once peaceful environment turns into a difficult one. I like and prefer the peaceful situations, but I grow spiritually and closer to the Lord in the difficult moments.

My roommate asked me the other day why she couldn't always be on the mountain top, living a victorious Christian life. I told her that it is in the valleys that God molds us to be more like Him. She said, "I know, but I like it better when I'm on the mountain top!" Don't we all?

God doesn't want me to be a complacent Christian. He wants me to be growing spiritually every day. Growing pains hurt, broken relationships hurt, death and illness hurt, and yet each situation can draw me closer to God or I can choose to live my life my way on my own.

From personal experience I can tell you that the best choice is to draw nigh to God. Cling to Him during the hard painful trials you face. It won't always be easy, but He will get you through each one, and you will come through the other side more refined. I think of the passage in Jeremiah 18:2-4 where it says:
"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
I am clay in the Master Potter's hands, and he is molding and making me into a useful vessel for His purpose.

Some verses God has brought to my attention as I struggle through difficult roommates are:
"Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Recompense to no man evil for evil . . .
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: . . .
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:14, 17-19, 21

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