Quiet Time Notes

Notes from my daily Quiet Times with God

Fear of Failure - Letting Problems and Failures Build Your Faith

February 18th, 2012
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by Tracey Jones, San Francisco Church of Christ

Romans 4:18-22; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 5:1-6

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us. Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) I think as a non-Christian, I was the most anxious, controlling person in the world. I remember I would have almost every minute of my life planned out from beginning to end. Although it helped me to be disciplined and to achieve goals, it stopped me from letting people into my heart. I was always the strong one to my friends and family…"the rock". They saw all the successful things on the outside, but they didn't see the desperate, feeble person I was inside. When I began to work with people, it was very difficult for me,  because I had no control whatsoever over them. That lack of control began to crush me. Now I see that God is using my problems and failures to encourage me to grow. He is telling me the little that I know is not enough - I need to keep growing and changing and developing into the person He wants me to be. One decision I have made when I have problems in my ministry, marriage, or family is to pray about them and to commit them fully
to God. Now, instead of giving in to thoughts like “I can't change that woman's heart, I pray specifically about what I need help with and have confident expectation of what God will do. This has brought much more joy to my marriage, ministry, and life.

What is stealing your joy? Could it be that you are letting problems and situations dictate your life?

Decide today to commit those things to prayer and ask God to give you increasing character to deal with your life.
Key Phrase: What is stealing your joy?