My Daughter Melissa
James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
The problem with a whole bunch of people who say they believe in Jesus, is that they’re immature in their faith. And that immaturity, is the cause of a lot of pain.
I want to share with you today about one of the greatest joys in my life. Her name is Melissa, my youngest. She’s 27, recently married – I had the great privilege to walk her down the aisle – and she manages a beauty therapy store.
Now, you know how hard it is bringing up kids, right. Those teenage years can be a real struggle and even though she’s always been a great kid, she and I are very different people, and so … we had our struggles.
But now, all of a sudden, she’s like a flower that’s burst open in spring. My little girl has grown up and I can see how all those hard yards, the persistence, the investment, is starting to pay off. All of a sudden, she has a mature head on her shoulders and that maturity brings such joy to my father’s heart.
I wonder if that isn’t how God feels, when we finally leave our childish tantrums behind and start to show some maturity!
James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
Growing up is hard work. Growing from immaturity into maturity requires suffering. But what joy it brings to the Father’s heart, to see His children mature and complete. What a great result.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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