I am thoroughly enjoying several devotionals by Sarah Young. Here is a reading from one of them called Dear Jesus: Seeking His Light In Your Life:

 

An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always by your side. The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable.

Dear Jesus,

I confess that I don’t like this tutor at all! What I really want is to break free and run away from my problems. Haven’t I spent enough time with this teacher? Surely there must be other ways I could learn.

Beloved, I don’t expect you to like your tutor. No one enjoys having problems. However, I do require you to accept your tutor’s presence with you as long as I choose. The bottom line is whether you trust Me to use the difficulty for good in your life. Beware of feeling entitled to an easy life. I actually promised the opposite when I said, “In this world you will have trouble.” If you want to learn all that I have prepared for you, you must accept My teaching methods. Remember that I am the Potter and you are the clay. You need to be flexible-malleable in My skillful hands.

Try to see your problems as a disguised blessing, gradually transforming you into My likeness. When you accept My ways with you trustingly-without rebelling or running away-you find freedom through My Spirit. Even more wondrously, I empower you to reflect Me to others with ever-increasing Glory!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Yet, o Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18

From the book:

Dear Jesus: Seeking His Light In Your Life
Sarah Young Copyright 2007 by Sarah Young

Check out her books here: Sarah Young