There might be a period in your life when you will experience tough times and when it happens, you will be faced with a series of questions. What do I do? Who can I turn to for comfort? How do I respond? All of these are legitimate questions that can weigh heavily on your mind. Our immediate instinct is to worry ourselves into a frantic state about how to resolve the issues.
No one wants to go through trying times in life. But if you do, there is an upside. The experience develops strength of character and you learn a great deal about yourself. First, as the bible says, you learn enjoyment: “Count it all joy when you fall into trials and tribulation.” It’s when you pass God’s test that he fills you with his joy. So, remember that pain is inevitable, and misery is optional in your life.
Second, we gain knowledge in tough times. We don’t realize how little we know until we walk through life’s darkest places and God turns on the light. An analogy to this is how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, should be patient and stand firm in tough times.
Third, is learning endurance. You cannot shorten the seasons or hurry the harvest, so be patient. While you are waiting for tough times to pass, God is working to resolve your problem. Of course, the hardest times in life can be waiting for a change or a more positive outlook on life when things seem hopeless.
Finally, your trials and hardships test your faith. You place your hope for a positive outcome in God and trust he will show you the way, even when you have every right not to. When your back is against the wall, you might ask where can I turn to for strength in tough times. The answer is there can be no more reliable source than God. So, Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Chaplain Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
