For some strange reason, I find it easier to rejoice when suffering from persecution or sickness than I do when my one-year old pulls the pitcher of milk off the table and spills it everywhere. Why is this? I think it is because the "bigger trials" are beyond my control, and I know it. Therefore, I call out to God in my time of need and pray for grace during those trials. But the daily irritations of life are a different matter. I live under the illusion that I can control these things. The big things are from God, but these smaller things ... well, they're not from God, they are from careless humans. Those are trials that could have and should have been avoided. Perhaps if I tighten the screws and clamp down on everyone, I can eliminate these smaller trials. That is the deception we swallow. We are to consider it all joy when we face trials of many kinds, not just when we face persecution or the death of a loved one or an illness. If we learn the secret of joy in such circumstances, we will experience victory over the sin that so easily entangles us. Instead of being grumpy and irritable, we will have joy. But don't try this at home without Christ. Without Him, we can do nothing. We have proven that already.
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