Previous Trials, New Future

Thinking back, I question my previous thoughts and actions. The summer before I started high school, I was baptized into Christ. Now I am a high school graduate. Almost 4 years have past since my  baptism, but have I really done all for God like I should have? Everyone has trials. What matters is how we react in those trials and let’s face it; if high school isn’t a trial, I don’t know what is. Especially prevalent in public school, there are many temptations that can corrupt anyone. The profanity, the clothes (or lack there of), and the attitudes. It’s frustrating to have to be in that environment. If there is anything that I regret, it is my timidity. I’ve always been shy and that is a problem in this case. I felt uncomfortable even doing something as simple as telling people not to use profanity around me. How can I openly show that I am living for God, if people don’t even understand how serious I am about it. Yes, people noticed that I didn’t use profanity and that I don’t dress revealingly, but was that enough? I was tested for 4 years. I had numerous chances to strengthen my faith. I feel that I realized too late that all my encounters and experiences really do happen for a reason. James 1:2-4 says that we need to use our trials to work toward a perfect result as we learn to endure. Look for every opportunity to spread God’s word. Believe me, there will be an opportunity everyday. Learn to find them. I wish that I thought in this way from the beginning. It is impossible to know what the result could have been. I thank God that I know it now. There are many people my age who don’t understand, yet God has confidence in me. I’m not better than anyone else. On a worldly perspective, I don’t feel that I deserve to have this knowledge or that I have the personality. But God knows I can do this. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, temptations are common to man and we cannot be tempted past what we are able. We can learn from our past mistakes. I have committed myself to serving God and am ready to start new in college. I have confidence that I will not fail. I ask God for help without any doubting, otherwise, I know that I might as well not even ask (James 1:6-7). Anyone who seeks to live for God and grow as a Christian can work past trials and have a wonderful future.

What Others are Reading: