Trials

Who wants them? None of us! Who gets them? ALL of us! How are you coping with your trials?
I'm going through some trials of my own right now. I don't like trials. I'm tired of trials. I feel like I've already had my fair share. Can you relate? But, they're part of life. We'll never be free of them in this life. God's been teaching me alot in the midst of them. I'll share a bit with you. Please share with me what God is teaching you as well.
Here's a quote from a book I read recently. The book is called, "Sandpebbles" by Patricia Hickman.
" 'It's hard to imagine that God gives us pain as a gift. Doesn't seem the least bit fathomable at first. But, it's like getting a new pair of glasses. You see life a little more clearly. Certainly you feel a lot closer to heaven,' she said."
Isn't it amazing the way God speaks to us? God has spoken to me so many times in just the past week. I enjoy it often, and yet each time it happens, I'm amazed. The God of the universe loves me, individually and personally! I get overwhelmed at times just trying to meet the needs of four children, I know I miss details. But, God doesn't! He has SOOO many children, and He sees and cares about EVERY detail of our lives. WOW! He sees every tear, knows every struggle, and meets every need, no matter how large or small.
That little above quote was yet another way God spoke to me in the past week. Pain is God's GIFT to me. Gift?! Which of us as parents wants to give our children pain?! And yet, we let our children suffer pain in order to learn lessons, don't we? Not because we don't love them, but because we DO!
I've been focusing on the following verses lately:

II Corinthians 12:7-10 (The Message) " Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."

Oh how very powerful these words are! I'm still working at grasping them. But, I think they are sinking in. When I feel weakest, I'm truely strong, because I give up all self effort, and lean on the Lord. Then, I am truely strong, because I'm tapping into THE power source!
In Acts 13 when the church at Antioch needed direction, do you know what they did? They worshipped the Lord, fasted, and waited for guidance. Wow! Simple, but profound. When I need guidance, I tend to want to read every book on the subject, talk to people who have experience, etc. I have grown in that area, and I am much more dependent on the Lord than I used to be. But, I still need to grow more. Only God Himself can intervene in our situations. Other can offer suggestions, pray and even offer some practical help at times, but ONLY God can intervene and work in whatever we are going through. We don't need to read every book on the subject of our trials, we don't need to talk about it more and more, we don't need to __________ (fill in the blank with whatever you do to fix it yourself!), we need to press in close and worship and fast and LISTEN for GOD'S guidance.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking getting support. Not at all! I'm so blessed to have family and friends who are there for me during trials. I couldn't make it without them. God placed us among the body of Christ for support and encouragement. But, again, only God knows every detail and can DO SOMETHING about our situations.
We can even rejoice in our trials. I rejoice in the fact that God is my anchor, my very present help in times of trouble. My heart breaks for those who don't have the Lord. No wonder so many turn to addictions of many kinds. We all need hope! One of my favorites verses is Jeremiah 29:11. You'll see it to the right at the top of my blog. Whatever trials we are facing, we can be assured that they are to prosper us and give us hope and a future. The trials I have been through in the past have grown me tremendously! I have been able to bless others who are now in the midst of those same trials.
Don't waste your trials. As you struggle through them, and God gives you insights, share them! There are others who need to hear the lessons you have learned. God is using your life to bless others. EVERY one of us has a purpose. I have been so blessed to hear others share with me thier life stories, the trials they have come through and the lessons they have learned. I am willing to share mine so that others can be encouraged as well. Rejoicing always, Sheree