Caelitus Mihi Vires

My strength is from heaven.
caelitus mihi vires

Something I recently (really in the past year) have realized is that praying for things often brings on situations and opportunities to grow in these things. By that I mean, when you pray for patience, you'll have a situation/opportunity to practice patience, to be patient.

For example: 

If you have been praying for patience, maybe God will have a sweet old grandma who can hardly see over the steering wheel pull out in front of you and drive half the speed limit while you are already running late for work...

This may seem crazy and you may be thinking, "why would a loving God do that to me? Cant he just make me patient? Why do I have to go through something to learn it?"

If we just received things like patience without any work on our part we would take it for granted and not appreciate it and truly grow from it.

The hardest trials bring on the greatest growth.

Recently I had one of these trials/situations arise. One big thing I have been praying for was that God would get the glory for things in my life, not me. The problem was, I didn't know exactly how to give God all the glory because I was operating out of my own strengths alone. I was relying on my abilities. I wasn't relying and putting trust and faith in His strength. I wasn't finding all of my happiness in Christ alone.

I was reminded that in my own strength and ability I'm limited.  

When I put my faith in myself its motionless.  

When I find my happiness in what I do or who I am it doesn't satisfy.

God's strength is limitless.

God's abilities exceed my understanding.

Faith in God can move mountains.

Happiness in God is truly satisfying.

I'm thankful for these situations and opportunities in life. I'm grateful for the growth that comes from the hard times. In the hard times is when relying on God is truly tested, daily.

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

- CS Lewis