The Ratchet

Many people are talking about reaching new levels or being elevated in the Lord. They’re waiting for their season of blessing, joy, peace, overflow, and abundance. Little thought goes into their current season – besides wanting out of it. However, the Lord uses seasons of trials and tribulations to mold us into mature disciples that resemble His Son (Romans 8:29).

Many people will find that when they complete one ‘test’ of life, another is right around the corner. Then, when they finish that one, another one awaits (but maybe not right away). Our lives are filled with various situations and circumstances that challenge the comfortable ground we’re on, want to remain on, and desire to be.

James 1:2-4 (KJV) – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The trying of our faith works toward patience. As patience is allowed to have her perfect work, we too will be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Think about that, we would be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. But to get there, we have to go through the process of patience having her perfect work.

Many of us allow patience to work, but not many of us allow patience to have her PERFECT work. We normally get through situations the best we know how (godly or not) and will thank God at the end. To allow patience to have her perfect work, we must allow ourselves to be in right standing with the Lord throughout the trial – His way, His word, His will be done through us. This is an intentional decision that must be made on our part time and again – with each passing moment (and second).

Hebrews 12:6-14 (KJV) – For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

The Lord chastises those He loves and He does it so that you will bring forth peaceable fruit of righteousness. However, the process for getting to this state will not seem joyous, but grieveous. But it is in those times that we must be joyous and allow patience to have her perfect work in us.

…and guess what…when you complete one ‘test’ or chastising, another will come.

God will continue to ‘crank’ (or ratchet) down on your life to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness in perfection. What was a huge trial a year ago may not be as ‘big’ today, but something else has taken its place. There is something else in your life that seems just as BIG, but when you look back, you may notice that you’ve grown; come closer to the Lord and His will; and you’re more dedicated and focused on serving Him. You’ve allowed the anointing and grace of God to teach and raise you in righteousness and obedience (Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 2:17).

Don’t become weary in well doing. It is all a part of the process to mold you in the image of God’s Son. He loves you too much to leave you in sin!

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