For this first post I am going to combine two of our lessons into one because I thought they both tied together pretty well. Patience and Adversity are certainly two things we all struggle with at times.

When talking about adversity we were discussing how we should learn how to relish the opportunity to be tested, or have tough times in our lives because this is when the Lord teaches us. Speaking for myself I often times do relish being tested, but there are certainly times when it is hard to process why the Lord has taken something from you or put you in a particular situation.

The story of Job is a perfect biblical example of what the Lords power can take away from us and also what he can reward if we are patient and trust in him. Job was a very righteous man who was also very prosperous with a good family and all the amenities he needed. When God asked Satan what he thought of Job, Satan told God Job was only righteous because God had put a wall around him and given him no reason to doubt God. At this, God gave Satan the opportunity to test Job. Through a series of events Satan took away everything Job had, including his family. Job struggled with the events that took him by storm, but in the end saw the lesson God was trying to teach him remained a righteous man.

We are much the same way. Although we may falter through the tests God gives us it is important to remain patient and also look to God for what he is trying to teach us as Job did. I don't doubt it for a second that if God tests us and we don't learn, we will be tested again, and again, and again until we do learn.

This lesson has been a big one for me the past couple of weeks in missing some cuts. Obviously it is going to happen and no need to over analyze, but it got me thinking. What is God teaching me here? I'm still working on pulling that one together, but I've got some ideas.

How has God tested you recently, and how have you learned from it?