Trials are testing, honing, and growing of your faith. They are a test of what you value more: The things you lose (material things, relationships, “success”), or the ability to grow closer to God. It is hard to not become depressed, fearful or worried when all that you know passes away from you. A child loses a parent and the world changes. A family loses their home and possessions to fire or flood … and they have lost more than things; they have lost the security of knowing where “home” is here on Earth. Faith is about knowing that when we lose everything else we still know we have Our Heavenly Father and that our ultimate home waits for us with Him. Until then, we have to persevere and be patient.

We won’t always win the battle to be cheerful in the face of adversity or strong in the face of things that bring us to our knees. But as long as we keep our eyes on God, our hearts turned to Him, then we will make it through any storm life sends, knowing that He can calm any storm.

Some days the load seems to heavy for us to bear; we forget that God is there. He never leaves us, but we often forget to call on Him. We try to do it in our own strength until there is simply not another step we can take, and then we ask Him to carry us … and He does.

James 1:2–8 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

Author:  Lea A. Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM GMC
Copyright ©2012 Lea A. Strickland
All Rights Reserved

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