I was thinking the other day how unprepared I was for life’s seemingly big trials. (my trials have been small in comparison to so many other Christians). My childhood was idyllic and I often refer to growing up in “Ozzie and Harriet’s” home. My parents loved each other and loved us. My sister and I never wanted for anything financially or emotionally. We were protected and loved.
Now that I’ve entered my ‘twilight years’ I’m finding that life’s trials seem to be increasing. My childhood did not prepare me for these trials but as I look back through my Christian walk I can see that God has used the common day trials as building blocks to prepare me for what would lie ahead. I’ve been in ’God’s Classroom’ and He has proven to be such a wise and loving teacher.
The past two years my husband and I have faced situations that have tested our faith. Daddy left for heaven (resulting in the first loss of one of our biological parents), one of our truck drivers ran over a young homeschooling mother and killed her as her 10 year old daughter watched from the sidewalk, our daughter in love was hospitalized for pneumonia for nearly a month and we feared losing her, our business suffered financial loss and we were forced to let our employees go and sell off most of our equipment along with 3 escrows on our home falling through over a two year period. (*see note below) God used so many things He has taught us over the past years of our Christian walk to help us get through each of these trials.
God’s Word has many things to say about trials and our response to them.
- We’re to count it PURE JOY when we face them.
- We will face trials of many kinds.
- They will build endurance, patience.
- They will only last for a little while.
- They help to mature us.
- We need to ask for wisdom in our trials and believe He will give it.
- Trials help to prove that our faith is genuine.
His Word promises to use everything in our lives to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:28-29) I’m sure we will never know all the ways these trials have been used to grow us in our walk of faith but I do know that we have learned to trust Him for a future that can oftentimes seem so very uncertain and even frightening at times. I wish I could say that my husband and I never questioned God or complained during the past two years. We did! But, thankfully the Lord promises to work even our failings together for our good and His glory.
Thankfully, I don’t know what the coming years hold for my family but my hope has been renewed that God is using the trials of TODAY to PREPARE US for the unknown trials of TOMORROW.
Thank you, again, to all our prayed for us.
For You, Oh God, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich FULFILLMENT. Psalm 66:10-12
In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7
Cosider it PURE JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
* I do not want to only share our trials without telling you that God has provided for us through each of our losses beyond what we could have ever imagined! To HIM be all glory forever and forever!
Comments (12)
great post. I hope everyone reads it through.
Our Father in Heaven loves us. There is not a doubt about that. He doesn’t promise us a trial free life. He does promise us the way to have victory over all of life’s trials. I am glad that you have experienced the Joy that comes with conquering lifes trials.
Great post
sooo true…….IF we let Him teach us and build our muscle/wisdom/strength.
That is fantastic loved it!!!!
Excellent post and very timely for me. Call me if you can today, ok? Please?
Oh how true…..we have been through some of the same types of trials you are speaking of and are still going through many! But each year it seems I find myself giving it all more and more to my heavenly Father. Sometimes I feel like maybe I’m becoming uncaring or unfeeling, but I really believe I am just more able to give up my cares and worries and find peace in the midst of it all. I wonder…..does God really want us to get to where we don’t feel any self-reliance at all, and to know we are totally dependent upon Him for absolutely everything? Yes, He is so faithful and always works things out for our best! TGBTG! Great post!
Just popping in to say “Hi,” and thanks for stopping by my site. (I don’t do that to all my guests) (o; We had great fun. I’m looking forward to their coming back.
Everyones trials are different but the same, it seems like we have the hardest but if I look around I can see that ours are so little compared to others, I think to myself why am I complaing or down in the dumps.. Glad you are getting moved in and settled. Great post. Dawn
great post! i could write a book on my trials from the last few years but i still needed this.
Good Morning!! A test of faith. It is so hard to go through trials and hardships. But it is a learning process as well. We learn that the Lord was with us all the way. HE didn’t just leave us when going through these trials. We see that in the end! PRAISE GOD! And if we don’t give up and go through what GOD is bringing us through we are more wiser, a little more mature in the LORD, and giving GOD ALL THE GLORY!!! As we must do…..sing HIS praises! Not just in good times when every thing is going good. But we must praise HIM and trust in HIM in the bad times when it seems like everything is going wrong and your’re asking yourself…what’s next? But you just pick yourself up each day and continue to thank HIM and praise HIM! (whew! I better stop here…lol!)
ryc…thank you for your comment. I greatly appreciate your words.
God Bless You!
You are so right, God does teach us and prepare us, and then when he deals with our tough stuff and strongholds, He does it so gently and carefully. We really can trust our Teacher and Guide.
Heather