The Christian norms promise, trial, provision give growth into maturity—what scripture calls perfection. John Hagee was talking about this in today’s sermon. Being smack dab in the middle of trial, the sermon hit me hard (or I should say, it was an accurate shot by the Holy Spirit).

Every time I arrive at the provision, the pain of trial leaves. Somehow, the next cycle is a surprise, again. Looking back I can see how the new promise and trial build on the previous experiences. But God is a master at this. He builds in a way to get right at the necessary new level of growth.

Our creative Christian norms promise, trial, provision free us to be us

This pattern is the core of God’s training method. The world gives trials with no promise—merely temptation. There are no promises, no real hope. In fact, the best the world can offer is that fickle god, Luck.

But God starts with a promise—commonly something improbable if not actually impossible. It’s usually far beyond any real goal. Yet, if we believe Him and have faith, it’s doable [as Jesse D. says].

Even if we accept the promise with no real issues, it’s simply because we haven’t thought out the absurd process necessary to actually get to the provision. Moving to Rochester was absurd from the moment He told us we were going. We had no money. Pat had severe health problems. We knew no one, except for the best friends of our daughter who’s been dead for 30 years.

That was the Fall of 2014. The process it took, the trials we went through, the absurd attacks by an increasingly panic-stricken enemy, couldn’t be written because they’re not believable. Yet June 30, 2018, we closed on our new home in Rochester, NY. The provision was miraculous on so many levels. Yet within a short time, we were immeshed in the next promise and resulting trial.

Even though we had just seen so many miracles, the new trial is even more difficult. That’s the way God is—IF we ask Him to make us fruitful and holy. But, after over 40 years, we have learned to rejoice in our trials. ALLELUIA!!!