Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow
James 1:2-3

Over the years I have figured out that God allows trials and hardships in our life for a purpose. They build strength, stamina and prepare you for something greater that God has only for you! I have a Pilot friend who does mandatory flight simulator training every 6 months. The training takes him through every disaster scenario that could happen when flying from weather, mechanical problems and even terrorist incidents. So, if a Pilot comes across this situation when flying they act (calmly) upon the situation and not react (in a panic) like the people flying in the plane. When God allows a trial, temptation, or test to come our way it increases our endurance and enlarges our capacity to handle future challenges just like that Pilot.

So, God will permit a hardship today that is going to simulate (like Pilot training) the level of pressure He knows you will face tomorrow. That is why a trial or test always feels greater than our level or preparedness. Now the good news. God uses our present challenges to strengthen us for greater conquests in the future. Our Father isn't some sadistic god that will permit a challenge, test, or trial in our life knowing that we can't overcome it. Our attitude toward troubles should be to see it as a great opportunity to build spiritual muscle and make us stronger for what He wants to do in us and in His Kingdom.    ​

PM

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.... The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17


We like to sing songs pleading to the Holy Spirit to come down, and send the rain, and fire. But the truth is the Holy Spirit is already here. He came down on the day of Pentecost and He never left! We talk and teach about being filled with the Spirit, having His gifts and receiving His comfort. Yet it is possible to know these doctrines and still not know him. If I were to ask you “have you received the Holy Spirit? How would you answer? You may say yes, I received him when I spoke in tongues, that was the evidence, or when I accepted him as Lord and Savior. Receiving the Sprit is not a one-time experience.  The word “receive” means to desire an expanding capacity or knowledge of who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is not received by someone until He is allowed to take full control of that person’s life.


Paul told the Galatians you received the Sprit by faith and know Him by faith but has there been a continued “ministry of the Spirit” by faith, causing you to go deeper in the Spirit? When this happens here is what takes place.
His Word comes alive to us
He brings comfort when events and tragedies happen
He is a helper in every area of our life
He gives us power to overcome temptations and Satan’s tricks


That is why it says in John 4. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. The more you desire to know the Holy Spirt through prayer and desperation, the more powerfully He works in and through you! He will become your helper, comforter, bearer of truth and heavenly power to overcome every obstacle. Knowing Him and receiving Him is a daily relationship we have, just like we do with the Son.