Lifes Darts

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1: 2-3. NKJ

Noone said life would be easy. In fact it's anything but. We all go through trials. This is how the Websters dictionary defines the word.
Trial - a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation.
Does that sound like something you've gone through? How did you handle it? In the past I had a tendency to want to work it out all by myself. To keep it bottled up until, like a coke bottle when you shake it what happens? It explodes. Then what you have is a bigger mess on your hands then when you started. What would happen if at the beginning of that trial you took it and handed it to the Lord? Do you think he's going to sit there and shake it up until it explodes? No.
1 Peter 6-7 says," Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Why is it so hard sometimes to humble ourselves before the Lord? If we could get it through our heads that He loves us way more than we can ever imagine and He knows our beginning to the end, we wouldn't hesitate to hand ALL our cares over to Him.
Psalm 18:32 says,"It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.
The Lord Himself will give us the strength we need to take on lifes darts. He's not going to take them away but He will give us the armor to defend ourselves from them. It's our choice each day to use that armor.
Ephesians 6:10-18 says," Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." NKJ.
Make sure that before those darts come that you have your armor on and are ready to go. Don't let them catch you unprepared. Don't let the armor sit in the closet until you "need" it. It's like not carrying insurance on your car until you have an accident. Well by then it's too late. Keep it on. Be encouraged. This too shall pass. The Lord's mercies are new every single morning.