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Monday, December 1, 2008

Motivate Me Monday! Building Character Through Trials

Before I share my MMM Post, I would like to introduce you all to Janell at

Mama On A Mission

She was one of the very first 5 am gals and she also is the one who created our Facebook Group, 5 AM Girls (Hello! You mean you haven't joined it yet?!).

Janell has great insights and an absolute love for the Lord - you can almost feel her bursting through with joy and passion for the scriptures as she writes! Her MMM post for today is "The Voice of God," and it is extremely motivating! Just check out this quote she cites:

"I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of it's own in regard to a given matter."

Be sure to head on over to her blog and tell her how much you appreciate her!

Trials In This Season Of Life

Lately, the trials I have been experiencing have gotten to be quite overwhelming at times. Some days are fine, but others I just find myself sad or tired or angry...or a mix! Thankfully, God has been so gracious to me in unveiling my eyes to the good in each of my trials. I am not only learning my weaknesses and limitations, but how to fall into His grace and know that He (and He alone) is the authority to tell me who I am. Here are some of my trials and how my character is being built through them:

Being tired - I am learning that I must rely on His strength and power, not my own.

Giving of myself/being drained - I am learning how to live selflessly.

Hurt feelings in relationships - I am learning how to trust God and believe that He is the only one that has the authority to tell me who I am.

Keeping up with managing my home - I am learning perseverance and skill.

Feelings of worthlessness - I am learning how to combat lies and cling to the truth.

Through all of these trials I am especially learning endurance - how to get through trials (and life in general) by faith knowing what the Lord has done and therefore knowing I can always rely on His faithfulness. All of my trials are perfecting me.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing...Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:2-4,12

Your turn!

  1. What you have learned and/or how God has spoken to you lately?
  2. Share some advice, wisdom, practical applications, tips you've learned, etc. that you think would benefit others.

(Remember to link directly to the MMM post and to link back here!)


10 comments:

Janell said...

Thanks for the shout out Sarah! I totally agree with you, about the trials and learning endurance! It seems like he is teaching me that SAME EXACT THING!!!! LOL...see you bright and early!

~Janell

Miranda said...

Thanks for the great blog! I have fallen in love with it.

Anonymous said...

Great post, Sarah. I hear faith, hope and love coming out of your trials. Thank you for encouraging me to think on these things too, as God grows me in many of the same areas.
Much love to you, sister and friend!

Christy said...

I love how you said that all of your trials are perfecting you. This is something that I need to be reminded of myself. This last week as I was spending time with the Lord (FIRST thing in the morning... YEAH!) I read the verse that says, " The Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes His covenant known to them." ~ Psalm 25:14. I want to grasp the truth that if I'm willing to see, God uses every difficulty, hardship, struggle, or perhaps just the place He has me in right now, to make those secret things known to me. They aren't also easy lessons to learn but He is faithful and it's just making us look more like Him.

::Traci:: said...

The hurt feelings in relationships .... that's something I am learning too.

MamaHen Em said...

I'm right there with you. Trials and learning, right here :) Thanks for the great post today!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm so glad to be joining you ladies!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Sarah Mae! There is so much we can learn from our trials and they are for our good. They teach us to rely on the Lord rather than ourselves.

Kim said...

I love this post. And, I am so thankful to be a part of this group as a new member (plan to head over to the Facebook group too). Schedule didn't allow me to write a post today, but I wanted to let you know that this group is so encouraging & has held me accountable... as my alarm goes off before 5, I'm thinking of all the other women in blogland getting up too! Thank You!!

DLiche said...

Just as victory requires fighting a battle, the development of your character requires persevering through the battle. God is the author of your character and the object of your hope and he does not disappoint.

Use your trials as opportunities to build your character. Persevere with the expectation of victory.