Faith Under Pressure

James 1:2-4 (The Message)
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
 
Digging deep into the music archive of The Salvation Army - Who remembers this little "ditty" arranged for Male Voices by Maj. Howard Davies:
 
Life is sometimes hard to bear
With problems most distressing
Ev'ry day a day of care
With heavy burdens pressing
Needing strength to battle on
Yet you find it fled and gone
Don't despair! - Hold on there!
We have news for you.
 
Does the Tempter's pow'r attack ?
And does he test you sorely?
Does resistance strain and crack
Until you feel quite poorly?
Satan shoots his fiery darts
Seems he know our weakest parts!
Don't despair! - Breathe a prayer!
God will care for you.
 
Still will come the gloomy day
When all seems drab and dreary
Loneliness may come your way
Or illness make you weary
Don't surrender or give in
Take life squarely on the chin
Don't despair! - God is there!
He will bring you through.
 
Chorus
When It seems you're under attack from all sides
Don't surrender or die
Though the clouds look terribly black
Your sky will clear up, cheer up, keep your faith high
Though the world should crumble and fall around you
Just remember it's true
God's still the one who's promised to care for,
He know the why as well as the wherefore,
God's still the one who's promised to care for you.
(do be do be do be do - do wah)

The arrangement is Jazzy and Light - sometimes life isn't!
 
It has certainly been the case for me and my family over the past several months - that our faith has been tested - I pray that it has at least taught me to become more mature and "well developed" in my faith and in the love for God and others that I come accross each day.
 
Thank God, he is always there, through good times and bad.  When life's "pressures" get us down - Get up close and personal with God - He will get you through.
 
Blessings: