Ever feel like you have reached your limit? Do you sometimes wonder if your own personal efforts are falling short? Do trials wash over you leaving you thinking that you just can’t take any more?
In truth, we all experience times in our lives when we think we have been pushed beyond our own expectations. Not all of these occurrences are necessarily bad for us–not if we follow God’s lead.
We have this assurance about the trials we may encounter, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [endure] it.”
Beyond trials and temptations, we face another reality in our Christianity. As servants of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, we have been given responsibilities for which we are accountable. In summarizing His teaching about the qualities of a faithful servant, Jesus said:
“‘…For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more'” (Luke 12:48).
An additional dimension for us to consider about the kind of service we are to give in our calling is found in another of Christ’s teachings:
“‘So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do”‘” (Luke 17:10).
As we have each answered our calling and have continued to faithfully serve God, we must go on to become profitable servants! We must advance in our service, and the way to do that is given by Peter: “[B]ut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
We have just finished the annual Holy Day season for this year, and we now have several months to deeply reflect on and implement what we have learned. We have been taught new things, challenged to really be involved in the Work of God and inspired to love one another fervently–in other words, to do even more!
Each one of us can do this, because we are servants of God–and with Him, all things are possible!
