Buckeye Candy

Consider it wholly joyful, my brothers, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various trials and temptations.

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you… But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ…

James 1:2-3   AMPC  and  1 Peter 4:12-13a  NLT, Berean Study Bible

As I read, reread and held to the light the above scriptures, I couldn’t help but think of a Christmas-time routine. Making Buckeye candy is part of my yearly Christmas cookie-making ritual. I Roll the peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter into 1-inch balls and then with a toothpick, very carefully dip it in melted chocolate. Because it’s supposed to look like a real Buckeye, I take extra effort to keep a small part of the peanut butter goodness uncovered. Try as I might, every now and then a rogue ball falls off the toothpick, becoming completely covered in a bath of melted chocolate. Totally enveloped. No spot left untouched by the hot glaze.

In the above verses the Holy Spirit speaks of trials that we encounter and others that literally envelop us. Like my rogue Buckeye candy…. there is no spot left untouched by the heat of adversity.

Some challenges we encounter are a steady drip of difficulty that can create cavernous channels of resentment, bitterness, frustration or a sense of hopelessness and despair even as it slowly wears away our inner peace. Enveloping trials hardly need an explanation – you know if you’re in one by the sheer all-encompassing take-your-breath-away magnitude…from the gut-punch pain. Jolted by searing heat of the trial that envelops us.

Nowhere in Scripture are we told to put on a “spiritual mask” and pretend we enjoy pain.  But… we are told to shift our focus and choose to consider, or “count it” as joyful because of what our Father God will accomplish in us and then through us – because of our trials. Instead, we offer an honest prayer of, “Father this hurts like crazy, but I trust You. I don’t understand and I don’t like it.  But because You are entirely faithful and trustworthy….I will count this as “joyful” while You work out Your purposes in me through it. Enable me to walk through this fire.”

“He has trusted you with this difficulty.”

– Jeanne Liston

Father, there is so much pain. So much despair in our world right now. Please envelop Your people with the Peace that only You can provide and enable us to “count it all joy” as we walk through our times of testing and fiery trials. Produce in us the reflection of Your Son.   In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus