True North: Going Through Hell for HeavenSample

As you come to the conclusion of this plan, I want you to be encouraged that the hardships and trials that will come (when not if) are part of the process of you becoming a mature follower of Christ. We grow the most when we are in the toughest moments. We become aware of our capabilities and deficiencies in times of trial. By being tested, we can accomplish more than we ever thought. God your Father, will allow you to be tested so that you can become strong and grounded in following Christ.

Allow me another analogy to explain the necessity of trials and hardship, one grounded in the Xenohormesis Hypothesis. Think about a tomato plant. A tomato plant that is grown in a greenhouse with controlled temperatures, regular watering, protection from wind, and parasites produces a beautiful-looking tomato. On the outside! You see, tomatoes grown in these conditions are deficient in nutrients and have a lower overall health benefit. They have never been stressed or had to struggle to survive. Contrast that with a tomato plant that is grown outdoors. Watering is irregular (roots have to grow deep for moisture). The wind blows so the stem must become strong so the plant doesn’t break. The leaves sometimes fall off to divert energy and resources to the survival of the whole. When a tomato is produced, they generally are not that pretty. They may have discoloration, cracks, and rough spots. However, they are extremely nutrient-dense and have a high health value as a result of what the plant has endured. The struggle to survive actually produces a healthier tomato. Is the battle evident in appearance? Yes! Yet the values and benefits of the battle aren’t just skin deep: it goes all the way to the core of the tomato. Welcome the trials and struggles. You are being grown into an extremely valuable “tomato” (a child of God that will bring Him glory, and you will be rewarded).

The struggles, trials and hardships also teach us obedience. As we move our lives under the authority of Jesus, we fall more in love with Him. We see Him rescue us and use others as His vessels to minister to our hearts. We even get to be used as vessels to minister to others. Through Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and our Father (The Trinity) we are connected and are used by Him for our own healing and the healing of others.

I challenge you to daily invite the Holy Spirit into your life. Surrender your heart, soul, mind, body, spirit, will, and sexuality to Jesus. Ask Jesus to give you His holiness daily. Stay vigilant in the fight. Embrace the gift of your salvation and speak in the authority you have as an heir of God against the attacks and deception of satan.

You are valuable. You are needed. I stand in anxious anticipation to share eternity with you, telling and hearing the stories of our Father’s love for us. I'm looking forward to enjoying being in perfect fellowship with all the sons and daughters of God and spending eternity in the presence of Jesus. What an amazing adventure awaits us at the restoration of all things. Paradise awaits us. Don’t lose sight of that. The trials and hardships of this life will be wiped away by the mercy and love of our Father in heaven. See you there!

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True North Ministries Basecamp is an opportunity that will jump-start your journey and accelerate your training of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ and the Christian life. Check out Basecamp by visiting www.truenorth.live/basecamp