Because of the trials I have gone through I began to be very conscience about the happenings in my life. I realized how blessed we are to have a home, healthy children, food, clothing, etc-I started recognizing and acknowledging God's works in my life-not only the things that made me happy, but the trials that we found ourselves going through. Recently I started realizing that things are out of my hands. Not to say that I should just give up, but that I should hand it over to God (which is hard to do when you are raised to be independent and self sufficient). But God instructs us to cast our cares concerns and anxieties on him so that He may receive the Glory and Praise for all things in my life and because he cares for us!
Did you ever get the hickups and someone offered to scare you to stop them?
Well, if you KNOW someone is going to scare you and your ready and recognize what is taking place it's not as scary as it would be if they had snuck up on you.
The point to that illustration is that I have learned that if I am aware and acknowledge that what I am going through is a trial, I will also gain peace in knowing that it will not last forever, and that the trials are used for the Lord's purpose....what purpose??? To what end do we endure these trials?
1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (7) 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. (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (9) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Also, so that we draw closer to Him and keep our focus on Him! Matthew 6:33 Jesus Himself tells us "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
I know this is a lot to take in, but what you are going through is completely normal. We should not be surprised!
Look at what 1 Peter 4 :12-19 (12) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (13)But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(14) If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (15) If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.(16) However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(17) For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God;and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (18) And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (19) So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Also,1 Peter 5:6-11 (6)Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.(7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (8) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaming lion looking for someone to devour.(9)Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.(10)And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and stead fast.(11)To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11- (3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (5)For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.(6)If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. (7) And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.(8) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. (9) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.(10) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, (11) as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Our world has become so busy. It is very important that we remind ourselves what is really eternally important? What is a matter of life and death to a Christian? It is not the life or death of our flesh, but of our Spirit! In the end, where do we end up, what is more important in our lives than what happens to our eternal souls when life as we know it is over? Not that we should roll over and do nothing because "nothing is more important"...on the contrary, God calls us to use the gifts that He has given us for His purpose. I only make this point because once it really sinks in what God's calling on your life is, and you follow that path that He has laid out before you-you will realize and embrace the trials because you will rejoice knowing that through participating in the sufferings of Christ we also have the great blessing and privilege or being witness to and testifying of His Glory!
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