Monday, February 11, 2008

Trials Build Character

Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fibre of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.
- James Buckham

Temptations are brought about because of Satan or ones-self. The Bible says that, "God tempteth no man but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed." If you can overcome temptation then you will be stronger.

8 comments:

Mark Pryor said...

Great post.

Catherine Roseberry-Meyer said...

Il paraît qu'un os cassé est plus fort et que l'on ne brise jamais deux fois la même place.

Karen J. Hopper said...

Loved your post. It speaks volumes, and your using the word "ones-self" as a means to temptation is a flashing light that we need to heed. It is a cop-out to blame satan for all our temptations; sometimss we alone bring them into being. When adversity comes, we need to activate a strength in us that we didn't know we had - that strength comes from the Lord. Thank you Brian, for your reminder that none of us are above facing temptation.

Jana Allard said...

Well, I guess I failed some in this area. The devil tempted me to buy a new dress I tried on and I told him, "Get thee behind me, Satan." He replied, "It looks good from back here, too." I caved in and bought the dress. Guess I have to blame me and the devil. Just kidding! This was a great post, my dear.

Just a thought said...

The idea of trials and temptations being what gives us strength is as bizarre to some as speaking French. Yet it is fact of life. If a muscle is not stretched and damaged, then there will be no strength in that muscle.

I like neither the feeling of the stretching nor the pain which comes with it.

Lord strength me!!

For I must be saved!!

Mervi

Just a thought said...

The idea of trials and temptations being what gives us strength is as bizarre to some as speaking French. Yet it is fact of life. If a muscle is not stretched and damaged, then there will be no strength in that muscle.

I like neither the feeling of the stretching nor the pain which comes with it.

Lord strength me!!

For I must be saved!!

Mervi

DeadMule said...

Just a thought said, "The idea of trials and temptations being what gives us strength is as bizarre to some as speaking French."

Trials and temptations do not give us strength. It is our faith that God will bring us through them that gives us strength. And when God does just that, our faith grows stronger.

Trials and temptations come to us via "the world, the flesh and the devil." You left out the world. "Temptations are brought about because of Satan or ones-self." But it's there. Would you say, "great job!" to a child who got a 67?

Mark Pryor said...

Yes, I would say "Great Job" to a child who got a 67 if he has been getting 30's and 40's. :-)