Thankful for Trials
My prayer journal entry from April 2, 2021
James 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I really didn’t like what I was going through as a business owner. I really didn’t like the outside perceptions of friends and others in my network. I hated to admit that I was struggling. I was so used to being there for others… I wasn’t used to opening myself up and allowing others to be there to help me. I felt like a failure. In a lot of ways, I was a failure.
At the same time, I finally reached a point where I was thanking God for the trial… I knew He was sculpting my character. I knew He was refining me in the fire. I knew He was placing me in a position where I had to depend on Him completely. I’m so thankful for that.
As a Christian, I think that getting to a place where you are “thankful for the trials” is probably the hardest place to get to. I still have to catch myself and lean into it. It’s truly a shift from “God, why are you letting this happen to me?” to “God, what are you trying to teach me?”
[Added notes and elaboration are italicized…]
Here is my prayer journal entry from…
Friday, April 2nd 2021, 5:15p NS4L Office
Jesus,
I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunities to talk to others about you. Even with other believers who just need encouragement and affirmation [even believers need to be reminded that Jesus loves them and has a plan for them]. It was so great to meet up with [business owner from a local Gainesville business] this morning. He has such a heart for you and just talking about you and sharing stories was a blessing. Same thing when I visited [business owners at another local Gainesville business]. We shared stories and talked about the work YOU are doing. I needed it as much as they probably did. Or maybe they didn’t. I don’t know, but the joy in our conversation felt great. Thank you for those opportunities. Please bless these people and their businesses.
Thank you for getting us through another quarter at NS4L. As we inch closer and closer to Monday’s “call for offers” at 5p on the property, I pray for these things specifically…
That I would be at peace this weekend, this Easter weekend, and won’t worry about what next week will bring.
That I would have some great quality time with the boys.
That Shannon and I will have some quality time and some intimacy.
I was going to write “an offer of at least 3.5 million on the property” but instead I would ask for you to bless the property and make it the clearest of all crystal clear as to what’s supposed to happen next.
Stir the heart of the person that contacted [our business broker] today about buying the business. I’d love to sell the property and the business if it were your will.
Yesterday, [a great friend] told me that I’ve handled all of this with such class. My dad said last week how proud he has been of the way I handled this as well. The glory should and does go to you. Thank you for this trial. Thank you for taking care of the family and I through all of it. Thank you for the lessons learned. Thank you for the relationships built. Thank you for the love, care, and support. I want to make you proud.
Finally, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. May this Easter be the best one yet as we remember you and the gift of salvation you gave us.
[No matter how crazy life gets, no matter how insane the trial may seem, no matter how big the storm is, no matter how successful we become… in the end, none of it matters. The only thing that matters is Jesus. His sacrifice on that cross for you and me. Our belief that He rose from the grave and lives today! Following Him. This is the only thing that truly matters.]
I love you so much.
Collin
As you can see, I was still exploring all the possible options. Would we sell the business? Would we sell the property? Would we remain open? I was looking forward to seeing what the Lord’s plan would be.
More soon!
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