Open Mouth Insert Foot!

How many would like to live a life without any troubles? I think most of us would answer that question with a absolute- Yes, that's what I want! However if we read the Bible we find time and time again the promise of persecution, temptations, and hardship. Wow, isn't that exciting? I think I know your reaction to that little tidbit of information. So why do we have to go through these tough times? If we read on we see that each time we go through these hard times we grow. We grow in character. We grow in our faith in God. We get a little glimpse of what Jesus went through. Have you ever been involved in doing something good and someone comes along and just tears your heart and stomps on? It seems like at church when this happens it hurts worse. We feel like we should be in a safe place in God's house but that isn't always the case. Why? The biggest reason this happens is that we are there.(OUCH!) Well-meaning people want to tell the teachers how to teach or the preacher how to preach but if you ask them to help! Whoa now, I'm just here to critique you. It may sound like I'm bitter but I'm not(I promise!). I do get tired of seeing people sacrificing their time, get their heart ripped out and handed back to them on a silver platter all in the name of God. Looking back on some of my "learning experiences", I do see how my character was developed but it doesn't make it any easier when going through it. One final word on this subject, think before you open your mouth! It could save you and the person you're speaking to a lot of pain.